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J-Power resumes construction of Aomori nuclear plant, AFP says

TOKYO (TR) – Electric Power Development, known as J-Power, resumed construction on the nuclear power plant at Oma in northeastern Aomori Prefecture, Agence France-Presse reported, citing the power utility.

The work on the facility is the first since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that destroyed Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the news agency said. Construction also resumed despite the government’s announcement it will phase out nuclear power by 2040.

All 54 Japanese reactors were eventually forced to shut down or remained shuttered in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Two have since restarted despite massive opposition from a public concerned the government and the industry can’t guarantee the safety of nuclear energy.

AFP cited the economy, trade and industry minister Yukio Edano as saying the decision to resume construction was made by the company. He said safety standards must be met before the plant is allowed to go online.

Source: AFP

Photo source: KEI (Oi nuclear power plant’s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors)