Science

Nuclear Restarts After Fukushima: 2011-2026 Timeline

Fifteen years after the Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan has restarted 15 reactors, Belgium and South Korea reversed nuclear phase-out policies, and global nu…

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FUKUSHIMA ACCIDENT

Fukushima Daiichi Accident

A magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami knocked out power and cooling at Fukushima Daiichi, causing reactor core damage and an INES Level 7 accident -- the same top ratin…

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ZERO REACTORS

Japan Reaches Zero Operating Reactors

With Tomari Unit 3's shutdown, Japan had zero operating nuclear reactors for the first time in decades -- before Fukushima, nuclear supplied roughly 30% of its electrici…

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RESTART ERA BEGINS

Sendai Unit 1 Restarts

Sendai Unit 1 became the first Japanese reactor to restart under the new Nuclear Regulation Authority's stricter post-Fukushima safety standards.

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ENERGY CRISIS

Russia Invades Ukraine, Triggering an Energy-Security Shock

Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted European gas supplies and sent prices sharply higher, forcing governments to reassess dependence on imported fossil fuels.

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GERMAN EXIT COMPLETE

Germany Shuts Its Final Three Reactors

Germany completed the nuclear phase-out it accelerated after Fukushima, shutting Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland for good.

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COP28 DECLARATION

20+ Countries Pledge to Triple Nuclear Capacity by 2050

More than 20 countries, including the US, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK, launched a declaration backing the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050 from…

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FIRST BWR RESTART

Onagawa Unit 2 Restarts

Onagawa Unit 2 became the first boiling-water reactor -- the same design used at Fukushima Daiichi -- to return to operation anywhere in Japan since 2011.

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TAIWAN EXITS

Taiwan Shuts Its Last Reactor, Goes Nuclear-Free

Taiwan Power Co. shut Maanshan Unit 2, its last operating reactor, completing a phase-out policy pursued since 2016 -- the same year global nuclear generation hit a reco…

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TEPCO RESTART

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 6 Reaches Commercial Operation

TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 -- the world's largest nuclear plant by installed capacity -- reached commercial operation, becoming Japan's 15th restarted reactor and…

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