Japan’s TEPCO Pauses Nuclear Reactor Reboot Day After Milestone Restart

Tokyo Electric Power Co., Japan’s largest utility, suspended the restart process of its nuclear power plant in Niigata prefecture, less than a day after resuming its first reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

TEPCO, as the utility is known, said it was forced to stop the process for the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant on Thursday due to an issue with an electrical part, according to a spokesperson. The unit began the restart process a little after 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Kashiwazaki Kariwa is the world’s biggest nuclear power plant and its restart is a turning point for Japan, which is still grappling with the fallout from the Fukushima meltdown. It took Tepco years to secure local approval to restart the facility due to safety missteps and concerns.

Thursday’s issue was with a part inside the control panel used to operate and monitor the reactor’s control rods that regulate the nuclear chain reaction, the spokesperson said. It was not immediately clear when the process to restart the plant would continue.

Tepco shares, which had closed 5% higher the day before, were trading 2% lower at 704.60 yen ($4.45) as of 12:47 p.m. local time.

Related:

• Japan’s TEPCO Restarts Nuclear Reactor for First Time Since Fukushima Disaster in 2011