Japan Starts Power Saving Program After Nuclear Restart

Tokyo protests for nuclear plant restart

This Monday Japan began their electricity saving targets as the country eyes a power shortfall over the hot summer, despite the weekend restart of a nuclear reactor.

The government has requested households and businesses in central and western Japan to voluntarily cut consumption of electricity. In Japan power consumption increases during summer as people turn on air conditioners to endure the hot weather.

After a two-month shutdown of Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors ended last Sunday, the Kansai Electric reactor No. 3 at the Ohi nuclear power plant was restarted two-weeks ago by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

This decision started a wave of more than 1,000 demonstrators and public protests from the people since the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, contaminated a large part of northern Japan with radiation.  (AV)