Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has faced a problem with Japan's nuclear energy plans. They wanted to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. This plant is the world's largest. However, operations were stopped on Thursday. This happened during important reactor startup steps. A warning signal from the system caused the stop.
The plant has been closed for about 14 years. This was after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. The restart of one reactor began on Wednesday. It had received the final approval from regulators. But the process stopped the next day. An unexpected problem caused a loud alarm. Tepco decided to put the control rods back. These rods control the nuclear reaction.
Officials say the reactor is stable. There is no danger to people outside. The reason for the alarm is being investigated. Takeyuki Inagaki, the site superintendent, said it will take time. "We don’t expect this to be solved within a day or two," he said. He also said, "There is no telling at the moment how long it will take." They will focus on finding the cause.
This delay is important for Japan's energy policy. Japan wants to use more nuclear power. This will help them use less imported fuel. It also helps meet climate goals for 2050. AI technology needs a lot of energy too. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant can make a lot of electricity. It is important for the country's energy changes.