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Japan court clears way to restarting Kansai Electric nuclear plants

Decision paves way to restart two reactors at Ohi plant nearly five years after Fukushima crisis

Reuters December 24, 2015

an aerial view shows no 4 front l no 3 front r no 2 rear l and no 1 reactor buildings at kansai electric power co 039 s takahama nuclear power plant in takahama town fukui prefecture in this photo taken by kyodo november 27 2014 photo reuters

An aerial view shows No. 4 (front L), No. 3 (front R), No. 2 (rear L) and No. 1 reactor buildings at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama nuclear power plant in Takahama town, Fukui prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo November 27, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS

FUKUI: A Japanese court on Thursday cleared the way for Kansai Electric Power Co to restart four nuclear reactors, rejecting legal claims against Japan's second-biggest utility to keep the reactors idled over safety concerns.

The Fukui District Court overturned an injunction that has prevented the restart of two reactors at Kansai's Takahama power station, and rejected a request for an injunction to block the restart of two reactors at its Ohi plant, plaintiffs' lawyers said.

The decision paves the way to restart the units nearly five years after the Fukushima crisis. The ruling signals judicial support for Japan's beefed up nuclear safety after Fukushima and may accelerate the country's return to atomic energy.