Japan's J-Power to resume nuke plant construction

J-Power could become the first Japanese utility construct a nuclear power plant since the Fukushima crisis.

Thr group plans to resume construction of its nuclear plant in in the city of Oma at Aomori Prefecture this year, according to sources. 

Japan's energy strategy calls for a nuclear power phaseout and disallows new reactors to be built. However, trade minister Yukio Edano said that nuclear plants already under construction at the time of the Fukushima disaster would not be categorized as new.

Thus the plan by J-Power, otherwise known as Electric Power Development Co. is consistent with government policy andthe utility does not need government permission to resume construction.

J-Power started building the plant, which is to have an advanced boiling water reactor, in May 2008 with the goal of bringing it online by November 2014.

The work, about 40 percent completed, was suspended because of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

The sources said that J-Power officials will visit Aomori on Monday. 

Hokkaido leaders have called for work on the facility to be suspended.

The utility does not need government permission to resume construction.

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