The owner of the Fukushima nuclear power plant is edging closer to having one of its reactors restarted for the first time since the 2011 disaster.
Hideyo Hanazumi, the governor of the Niigata region, where Japan's largest nuclear power plant is located, stated that the prefecture would give its consent for the restart.
Final approval from Japan's nuclear regulator is necessary before the plan to resume operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, operated by Tepco, goes ahead.
If approved, it would be the first time Tepco has been allowed to recommence nuclear reactor operations in Japan since its Fukushima plant went into meltdown following a tsunami.
However, residents in Niigata are divided over whether the plant should be restarted. Hanazumi indicated that the decision would be discussed in December at a prefectural government assembly, where he would seek the assembly's approval.
The approval would pertain to the recommencement of operations at the plant's No 6 reactor, followed by the No 7.
The resumption of operations at the facility is part of Tepco's business reconstruction plan following the Fukushima meltdown, which resulted in a substantial radiation leak and the evacuation of 150,000 people.
The past disasters have made residents wary; a recent survey indicated that while about 50% of locals supported the plant's restart, 47% opposed it, with nearly 70% expressing concerns about Tepco operating the facility.
Friday's decision highlights Japan's movement towards increased use of atomic energy as it seeks to reduce dependency on fossil fuels while aiming for net zero carbon emissions.
