Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station

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.

Japan has restarted a reactor at the world's largest nuclear plant to address electricity demands amid a global oil crisis, but this highlights the country's shortage of storage space for spent nuclear fuel and lack of a permanent disposal plan. Cooling pools at key plants, including Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, are nearing capacity, and a proposed storage site on Minamitorishima faces skepticism. Recycling efforts for spent fuel have stalled, exacerbating concerns over growing radioactive waste.

Japan has restarted the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station to address electricity demands amid a global oil crisis, but the move highlights Japan's lack of a viable plan for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Cooling pools at 17 nuclear plants are nearing 80% storage capacity, and a stalled fuel recycling plan exacerbates concerns as reactors risk closure when storage runs out.