Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki plans to approve the restart of the No. 3 reactor at the Tomari nuclear power plant operated by Hokkaido Electric Power Co. The move could reduce household electricity fees by about 11 percent, with operations targeted for early 2027. Local consents are being secured, and safety explanations to residents have been completed.
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki intends to announce a final decision approving the restart of the No. 3 reactor at the Tomari nuclear power plant, operated by Hokkaido Electric Power Co., after considering deliberations in the prefectural assembly. According to informed sources, Vice Governor Tsuyoshi Mitsuhashi informed a parliamentary group holding the majority, including the Liberal Democratic Party, that the governor believes "the restart will be unavoidable given what options are realistic." The group's members reportedly plan to agree, taking the governor's opinion into account.
Suzuki is expected to explain his views at a plenary session of the assembly as early as Friday and make his final decision as early as December, after hearing members' opinions. Previously, the governor avoided clear statements, saying he would comprehensively decide after input from residents, the assembly, and municipalities.
This comes amid ongoing projects for an advanced semiconductor manufacturing plant and data center in Hokkaido, which are expected to boost electricity demand. The prefectural government has completed explanations of safety measures to local residents. Consent from local governments is also required; Tetsunori Takahashi, mayor of Tomari where the plant is located, gave approval on November 17.
The Tomari plant has three reactors, with No. 3 shut down in May 2012. HEPCO applied for safety screening with the Nuclear Regulation Authority in July 2013, but the process was prolonged due to explanations about no fault beneath the site. It passed the screening in July this year. The company aims to restart No. 1 and No. 2 reactors, shut down shortly after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, in the early 2030s.
Following the restart, the company plans to cut household electricity fees by about 11 percent. A seawall to protect against tsunamis is under construction and scheduled for completion by March 2027; any delay could postpone the restart.