A nuclear reactor started supplying power early Thursday in western Japan, becoming the nation's first reactor to restart operation since last year's nuclear disaster that has prompted growing public opposition against the power source, dpa reported.
Japan regained nuclear-generated electricity as reactor 3 at the Oi Nuclear Power Plant on the Sea of Japan coast was connected to the generator and transmission grid.
Kansai Electric Power Co reactivated the unit Sunday, the first restart since last year's disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.The other 49 reactors have been offline for maintenance or repairs because of fears of nuclear power following the nation's worst atomic accident.
The Fukushima plant went into meltdown after it was struck by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to leave the areas near the complex.
Nuclear-generated electricity made up about 30 per cent of Japan's output before the disaster.