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          Japanese Nuclear Plant Gets Preliminary Approval to Restart

   by VOA News

   A Japanese nuclear plant has gotten preliminary approval for meeting
   newly increased standards for nuclear energy, enacted in the wake of
   the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown three years ago.

   Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority issued a 400-page report approving
   upgrades to the design and safety at Kyushu Electric Power's Sendai
   power plant, located on the southern tip of Japan's Kyushu island. The
   plant would become the first of Japan's nuclear plants to restart under
   stricter standards.

   Regulators say the plant is now capable of avoiding severe meltdowns
   like that of the Fukushima plant following an earthquake and tsunami in
   2011. Final approval to put the Sendai plant back into operation, if
   granted, will come only after a 30-day public comment period ending in
   mid-August.

   Japan switched off its nuclear reactors for maintenance after the
   Fukushima accident that crippled the plant and exposed the surrounding
   area to radiation. Since then, Japanese citizens have faced higher
   energy prices as the nation switched its dependence to fossil fuels.
   The change also caused trade deficits with Japan's energy partners.

   But opposition to nuclear energy in Japan remains strong, with repeated
   protests staged in front of the office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,
   who has been pushing to get Japan's nuclear plants running again.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/japanese-nuclear-plant-preliminary-ap
   proval-restart/1958464.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/japanese-nuclear-plant-preliminary-approval-restart/1958464.html