Most Japanese cities hosting nuclear plants OK with reactor restarts, survey finds

The majority of Japanese towns and cities hosting nuclear plants said they would agree to the reactors being restarted if the government guaranteed the safety of the facilities, a survey said Sunday.

All but two of Japan’s 50 reactors remain closed for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered by the March last year quake-tsunami and must get the blessing of a new regulator before being restarted.

Despite the Fukushima crisis, 54 per cent of the 135 mayors of communities located near nuclear plants said they would accept the restart of the reactors, according to the survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

Only 18 per cent said they would not support reactor restarts, while 28 per cent refrained from clarifying their position, the Yomiuri said, while two did not give valid answers.

The results run contrary to public opposition to reactor restarts, as the Fukushima nuclear meltdown has fuelled a fear of nuclear power in Japan.

The survey outcome however reflects the harsh economic reality in the rural communities hosting nuclear facilities, which are usually major employers in the areas that often have no other industries, the newspaper said.