Photo/Illutration Tokyo Electric Power Co. is seeking to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, located on the coast of Niigata Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

A new survey shows an equal divide among residents over restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. 

The plant is the first reactor that TEPCO aims to resume following the devastating accident at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. 

The survey, released by Niigata Prefecture on Oct. 1, shows that 50 percent of respondents support the restart, while 48 percent oppose it, underscoring the contentious nature of the issue.

Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who holds the final say on whether the plant resumes operations, has emphasized the importance of gauging public sentiment before making his decision.

The survey marks the final step in that process, though officials within the prefectural government have noted that public understanding of the restart remains limited.

The survey targeted residents aged 18 and older from all 30 municipalities in the prefecture, and received 3,360 valid responses, representing 56 percent of those contacted.

Participants answered 43 questions, mostly multiple choice, covering nuclear energy necessity, interest in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant and views on its restart.

Only 37 percent believed the conditions for restarting were currently met, while 60 percent disagreed.

The survey found that 55 percent agreed that sufficient safety measures have been implemented following the 2011 triple meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

However, strong distrust toward the operator persists, with 69 percent expressing concern about TEPCO operating the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant.

The survey also highlighted low public awareness of nuclear disaster preparedness.

In five out of eight questions on evacuation and safety protocols, more respondents said they were unaware than aware.

Notably, 77 percent said they did not know about radiation protection measures for medical and welfare facilities.

Hanazumi acknowledged the lack of public awareness as regrettable and expressed a desire to increase engagement.

However, he refrained from commenting on how the survey results would influence his final decision, which is expected after a more detailed analysis by the end of October.

The results of a separate, similar survey targeting residents living near the plant will be released at the same time.

PUSH FOR NUCLEAR REVIVAL

The central government and TEPCO have ramped up efforts to secure local support, offering financial aid to evacuation zones and investing in the regional economy.

These moves come amid a broader policy shift.

Japan’s Strategic Energy Plan, revised in February, now promotes “maximum utilization” of nuclear power to meet growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

TEPCO views the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant as critical to its financial recovery.

The company faces more than 16 trillion yen ($108.7 billion) in costs related to the Fukushima disaster and has posted negative free cash flow for seven consecutive years.

Restarting just one reactor could improve its balance sheet by 100 billion yen annually. TEPCO aims to first restart reactor No. 6 at the plant, followed by No. 7.

As the final decision looms, the spotlight remains on Hanazumi, whose cautious stance contrasts with the government’s push for nuclear revival.

(This article was written by Naomi Nishimura, Yasushi Yamazaki and Satoshi Shinden.)

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