Tokyo -The governor of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Wednesday said she had approved the restart of a nuclear reactor, the first resumption of plants suspended since the nation's worst atomic accident in March.
Harumi Takahashi was to inform Industry Minister Banri Kaieda of her approval for reactor number 3 at Tomari Nuclear Power Station on the island. After receiving her call, Kaieda was also expected to give the final go-ahead for operator Hokkaido Electric Power Co to resume the reactor.
The reactor, which had been suspended for regular inspections, was supposed to resume operation in April. But it had been delayed in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The Fukushima plant has leaked radiation since it was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. - Sapa-dpa