日本政府預計在本週批准重啟該國最大的核電站——新潟縣的柏崎刈羽核電站，此舉引發國內外高度關注。據日本共同社與《日本經濟新聞》援引未具名消息人士的報導，當地知事即將批准核電站的運行恢復，但此次僅允許七座反應堆中的一座重新運作。

柏崎刈羽核電站位於日本西北部新潟縣，因跨越柏崎與刈羽兩地而得名，裝機容量高達8212兆瓦，是全球淨發電量最大的核電站之一。該電站自2011年3月11日福島第一核電站發生嚴重核洩漏事故後，隨即停運，成為日本政府全面審查國內核能安全的重點對象。當時，日本政府下令全國所有核電站停止運作，以防止類似福島核事故再次發生。

隨著時間推進，截至目前，日本已有14座核電機組陸續恢復運行，主要集中在西部與南部地區。柏崎刈羽核電站自2012年3月停運以來，經歷了長期的安全審查與檢測。7號機組是首都圈及周邊地區的重要電力來源，於2017年通過日本原子能規制委員會的安全審查。然而，後續檢測中發現多項安全性漏洞，導致規制委禁止其重啟，直到2023年12月重新檢驗通過後，才解除禁令。

此次核電站重啟，標誌著日本在福島事故後對核能政策的又一重大調整，也顯示日本政府在保障能源供應與核能安全之間的平衡策略。分析人士指出，雖然僅有一座反應堆恢復運行，但對穩定電力供應、減少對化石燃料的依賴，以及應對極端天氣導致的電力需求波動具有重要意義。柏崎刈羽核電站的重啟亦引發社會對核安全和環境風險的關注，部分民眾與環保團體對核能運作的安全性仍持保留態度，呼籲政府持續強化監管與防護措施。此次核電站恢復運行，將成為日本能源政策的重要里程碑，也將對國內電力市場、能源結構以及民眾安全感產生深遠影響。

Japan is expected to approve the restart of its largest nuclear power plant, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, later this week, drawing significant domestic and international attention. According to reports from Kyodo News and The Nikkei, citing unnamed sources, the local governor is set to authorize the resumption of operations, though only one of the plant’s seven reactors will be restarted.

Located in the northwestern part of Niigata Prefecture, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant spans the cities of Kashiwazaki and Kariwa and has a total installed capacity of 8,212 megawatts, making it one of the largest nuclear power stations in the world in terms of net electricity output. Following the catastrophic Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011, the plant was shut down as part of Japan’s nationwide safety review of nuclear facilities. The government at the time ordered all domestic nuclear plants to halt operations to prevent a similar incident from occurring.

Over time, fourteen nuclear reactor units across Japan have resumed operations, primarily in the western and southern regions of the country. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant had remained offline since March 2012, undergoing extensive safety inspections and regulatory reviews. Reactor Unit 7, which supplies electricity to the Tokyo metropolitan area and surrounding regions, passed a safety review by the Nuclear Regulation Authority in 2017. However, subsequent inspections revealed multiple safety issues, leading the regulator to prohibit its restart. It was not until December 2023, after further testing and verification, that the restart ban was lifted.

The planned restart of the plant represents a significant adjustment in Japan’s nuclear energy policy since the Fukushima disaster, reflecting the government’s effort to balance energy security with nuclear safety. Experts note that while only one reactor will resume operation, it is expected to play a critical role in stabilizing electricity supply, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and meeting peak energy demand during extreme weather events. Nevertheless, the restart has sparked public debate over nuclear safety and environmental risks, with some citizens and environmental groups urging the government to maintain strict oversight and implement robust safety measures.

The resumption of operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant marks an important milestone in Japan’s energy strategy and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the country’s electricity market, energy mix, and public confidence in nuclear safety.