Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Friday gave the greenlight for a geological survey by two major utilities companies, in a step toward the building of an intermediate facility to temporarily keep spent nuclear fuel.
Chugoku Electric Power proposed a plan to Kaminoseki earlier this month to jointly construct the facility with Kansai Electric Power. It will be the second such storage facility in Japan, following one already built in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture.
The move will result in a nuclear-related state subsidy and fresh sources of tax revenues for the fast-graying municipality.