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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Japan governor approves Sendai reactor restart | Japan governor approves Sendai reactor restart |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two reactors at Japan's Sendai nuclear plant are set to become the first to be restarted since the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear facility. | Two reactors at Japan's Sendai nuclear plant are set to become the first to be restarted since the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear facility. |
| The governor of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture gave his approval, marking the final hurdle for the restart, which is now likely to happen next year. | |
| Before the accident, caused by a massive quake and tsunami, about 30% of Japan's power was nuclear-generated. | Before the accident, caused by a massive quake and tsunami, about 30% of Japan's power was nuclear-generated. |
| All 48 plants were shut down but PM Shinzo Abe has lobbied for a restart. | All 48 plants were shut down but PM Shinzo Abe has lobbied for a restart. |
| Mr Abe's government has argued that the shutdown has hurt the economy, forcing Japan to import expensive fossil fuels to make up the power shortfall. | |
| Despite public anxiety, earlier this year Mr Abe approved an energy plan backing the use of nuclear power. | |
| Local authorities were given the final say on whether to restart their commercial plants. The plant's host town, Satsumasendai, had already voted in favour. | |
| "I have decided that it is unavoidable to restart the No. 1 and No. 2 Sendai nuclear reactors," Kagoshima Governor Yuichiro Ito told a news conference on Friday, reported Reuters news agency. | "I have decided that it is unavoidable to restart the No. 1 and No. 2 Sendai nuclear reactors," Kagoshima Governor Yuichiro Ito told a news conference on Friday, reported Reuters news agency. |
| "I have said that assuring safety is a prerequisite and that the government must ensure safety and publicly explain it thoroughly to residents." | "I have said that assuring safety is a prerequisite and that the government must ensure safety and publicly explain it thoroughly to residents." |
| The reactors, operated by Kyushu Electric Power, will likely restart next year as further operational checks need to be passed. | The reactors, operated by Kyushu Electric Power, will likely restart next year as further operational checks need to be passed. |
| In a vote on Friday 38 out of 47 of the Kagoshima's prefectural assembly backed the restarting of the reactors. | In a vote on Friday 38 out of 47 of the Kagoshima's prefectural assembly backed the restarting of the reactors. |
| Protesters present in the assembly hall stood up before the vote with pink signs that said "NO restart", reported Reuters. Yelling from opponents drowned out the final vote. | Protesters present in the assembly hall stood up before the vote with pink signs that said "NO restart", reported Reuters. Yelling from opponents drowned out the final vote. |
| In September, Japanese regulators gave the Sendai reactors their final approval saying safety standards introduced after the Fukushima disaster had been met. | In September, Japanese regulators gave the Sendai reactors their final approval saying safety standards introduced after the Fukushima disaster had been met. |