Tokyo Electric Power has been cleared by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority to restart its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata prefecture, but the utility must still receive local government approval. TEPCO plans to bring reactor Units 6 and 7 back online, but has not made plans for the plant's other five reactors.

Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant received low marks on its communication with nuclear authorities during an emergency drill, says Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. The plant was slow in getting information to authorities and the information received was inadequate, the regulator says.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said Units 6 and 7 at Tokyo Electric Power's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant would probably pass safety inspections, a mandatory milestone before the regulator will approve the reactors' restart. No estimated restart date has been set since TEPCO will still need approval from the prefectural government, which is maintaining a cautious stance on nuclear energy.

The governor of Japan's Niigata prefecture approved Tokyo Electric Power's proposal to file a request with the country's nuclear regulator to restart two of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant's seven reactors. TEPCO is expected to contact Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority today.

The two host towns for the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Japan have approved Tokyo Electric Power's plan to apply for safety assessments of its reactors there, the company announced. TEPCO President Naomi Hirose said he wants another round of discussions with Niigata prefecture Gov. Hirohiko Izumida, who has yet to give his approval. TEPCO aims to have the plant reactivated in order to curb fuel costs.