Reactor reboot at world’s largest nuclear plant highlights flaws in Japan’s radioactive waste plans

Japan has restarted the No. 6 reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station, the world’s largest nuclear plant, to address electricity demands amid a global oil crisis. However, the reboot underscores Japan’s lack of permanent radioactive waste disposal plans, with cooling pools at the plant nearing capacity and only 15 of 54 reactors restarted since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Recycling efforts for spent fuel are stalled due to technical failures, exacerbating storage challenges.