The Japanese Government has approved the resumption of operations at two of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors, the first to come back on line after they were all shut down following the Fukushima crisis. The two reactors are operated by Kansai Electric Power Co at Ohi in western Japan.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) says that as of December 2011 conditions equivalent to a cold shutdown, where the inside reactor temperatures have decreased to below 100 degrees C, have been achieved at Units 1 through 3. Tepco also says that the release of radioactive materials has been significantly suppressed. Efforts to continue cooling down the reactors, control radioactive emissions into the atmosphere, and stop all radiation leakage into the ocean continue ongoing. Tepco says that in the future they will move forward with their primary mission to decommission Units 1 through 4.
After Fukushima, the last operating nuclear reactor was shut down May 6, 2012.
Tepco shareholders have approved nationalization of Tepco, which would have been forced into bankrupcy as a result of the Fukushima incident. Tepco management has secured an agreement from the government to inject ¥1 trillion ($12.6 billion) in government capital in return for a 50.1% stake in the company.
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