Japan aims to restart nuclear reactor in June

TOKYO - Japan's government is aiming to restart a nuclear reactor by around June following a lengthy and politically-sensitive approval process in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, sources familiar with the plans said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has been pushing to bring some of the country's reactors back online after all 48 closed following meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011, arguing they are key to economic growth.

The living ruins: Fukushima 3 years on

A reboot in what was once the third-biggest user of nuclear power would boost its utilities, which have been hit by huge losses as they switch to fossil fuels and upgrade nuclear plants, with two turning to the government for bailouts.

But the move would be controversial in a nation where most oppose nuclear power, with memories still fresh of the worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

"We urge the government to take into full consideration the tremendous suffering from the nuclear power plant accident and make sure that future policy ensures the safety and peace of mind of all citizens," Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said, when asked about restarts.

Kyushu Electric Power Co will be given the greenlight to restart two nuclear units in southwestern Japan, with June pencilled in for the first unit, according to three sources familiar with the government's thinking. They declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with media.

By June, Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority is expected to have completed the final checks and appraisal of the reactors at Kyushu Electric's Sendai station, letting Abe give the final go-ahead after local authority approval late last year.

A June restart would also mean local elections scheduled for April would be out of the way, giving the government some leeway to take such a potentially unpopular step.

An industry ministry spokesman said no announcement had been made on Sendai's restart date.