Nuclear Renaissance Restarts Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6.

In a major step toward its 2040 energy goals, Japan successfully restarted Unit 6 of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Niigata Prefecture in February 2026. This marks the return to service of one of the world's largest nuclear facilities following over a decade of post-Fukushima safety reviews. The 1,356-megawatt reactor is expected to displace approximately 1.3 million tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports annually, significantly reducing Japan’s reliance on volatile global fossil fuel markets. The restart is part of the broader Green Transformation (GX) strategy, which aims for nuclear power to provide 20% of the nation’s electricity by 2040. Government officials estimate the move will help stabilize electricity prices for heavy industry, which has faced rising costs since the suspension of nuclear operations.

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