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Japan is edging closer to giving the go-ahead for the resumption of the world's largest nuclear power plant—marking the initial occasion it would be running since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident.

Hideyo Hanazumi, governor of the Niigata region where the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant is situated, announced he has approved for the partial restart.

The initiative to resume operations at the station, run by utility company Tepco, requires approval from the local government assembly and the nation's atomic regulatory agency before it can proceed.

If approved, it would be the inaugural occasion the utility company would be permitted to resume reactor functioning in Japan since its Fukushima plant experienced a meltdown in the wake of a tidal surge.

Local Residents Divided on Restart

Residents in Niigata are divided over whether the plant should be restarted or not.

The governor informed a news conference on the end of the week that his decision would be considered in December at a local government meeting, where he would pursue the legislature's authorization.

The authorization would be for the restart of functioning at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant's No 6 reactor, followed by the seventh reactor.

Context and Corporate Reconstruction Strategy

The resumption of operations at the facility is part of the utility's business reconstruction plan following the Fukushima catastrophe, which was resulted from a powerful seismic event and huge tidal wave.

When the plant's reactors were flooded by the surge, it caused the release of radiation and compelled numerous residents to be evacuated from the area.

Japan ordered all its nuclear power plant reactors to be deactivated in that year in the wake of the catastrophe. Afterward, 14 reactors have restarted.

The company was instructed to pay trillions of Japanese yen in compensation to those harmed and is also funding the facility's shutdown expenses.

Public Sentiment and Worries

A poll issued by the local government last month showed that 50% of its locals backed the plant's restart, while nearly half were opposed. It also indicated that almost 70% of individuals in the region were anxious about the company operating the station.

Energy Goals and Future

The recent ruling shows a desire among some in Japan to progress to expanded reliance of atomic energy to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, as the nation aims for a target of zero net emissions.