Tokyo Electric Power Co. has won the backing of Niigata Prefecture's safety committee for improvements to a reactor at the utility's quake-halted Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear station, bringing Tepco closer to restarting the world's largest atomic plant.
The panel told Niigata Gov. Hirohiko Izumida Tuesday that it agreed with the central government's verdict that the No. 7 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station is safe, Takeshi Kumakura of Niigata's nuclear safety division said Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, Kashiwazaki Mayor Hiroshi Aida responded positively to restarting the reactor.