28 Sep 2013

Nuclear plant wants to re-start reactors

8:33 am on 28 September 2013

The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan has asked for permission to re-open two reactors at a different location.

All Japan's nuclear power stations were closed down after the earthquake and tsunami that caused the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company has made a formal request to restart reactors at a plant on the northwest coast, despite continuing doubts about its competence in handling the Fukushima crisis.

Last month it revealed that about 300 tonnes of radioactive water is still seeping from the storage tanks on the site every day.

Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi says dealing safely with those problems remains the priority, the BBC reports.

"I'd like all necessary measures to be taken, they must not be neglected on any account," says Mr Motegi.