Jun 29, 2009 -- BBC Monitoring


Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency approved in principle Monday the restart of commercial operations at the quake-stalled Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, the world's largest by output.

In May, Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, began test operations of one of its seven reactors after the 22-month suspension following a major earthquake in the area in 2007.

"The facility is working well and we believe there will be no problem in keeping the plant in operation," the government agency reported to a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry panel.

The approval will pave the way for TEPCO, Japan's largest utility, to resume commercial operation to generate electricity at the plant and is expected to relieve the nerves of the company's management ahead of a likely surge in power demand for air-conditioning use during summer.

But TEPCO, which had been mired in a series of scandals over safety flaws at its nuclear facilities, is required to explain its policy to area governments and citizens.

It needs to obtain final approval from the prefectural government of Niigata and go through state safety examinations before restarting commercial operation.

Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0430 gmt 29 Jun 09

BBC Mon AS1 AsPol pjt

News Provided By