After more than a decade of regulatory limbo, Hokkaido Electric is poised to tap back into its nuclear power capacity. On April 30, the Nuclear Regulation Authority issued a draft safety approval for Tomari NPP Unit 3, in effect greenlighting restart by 2027 – as long as local consent can be secured. Meanwhile, safety reviews for Units 1 and 2 are still pending.

In late spring, Tomari’s Unit 3 was one of three nuclear reactors selected under OCCTO’s LTDA for decarbonization subsidies, which is another indication that a restart is close. The other two were Tokai No. 2, which still faces safety reviews, and TEPCO’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 (see Japan NRG’s June 23 issue).

Of those three, Tomari Unit 3 has the best chances to get back online. Still, the path to operation is anything but certain. The utility is grappling with financial difficulties, regulatory obligations and, of course, political approval.

Just how soon could Tomari Unit 3 possibly turn back on? Japan NRG takes a look.