Restart preparations for Unit 7 at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power station in Japan have been completed and a final decision on restarting the plant will be made once owner and operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has gained the understanding of the local community, NucNet has been told.

Tepco also said it plans to begin fuel loading at Unit 6 in June. By this summer, Unit 6 is expected to reach the same state as Unit 7, being “technically ready” for operation. Fuel loading at Unit 7 was completed in April 2024.

Tepco said press reports that it had changed the timeline for the completion of restart preparations at the facility, in Niigata Prefecture, western Japan, were not correct.