Japan plans to reopen first nuclear plant since 2011 tsunami

KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN (APTN/CBS) - A Japanese nuclear plant obtained clearance on Wednesday from regulators to proceed with remodeling, becoming the first nuclear facility in the country to meet new criteria imposed after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved a remodeling plan for Sendai Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, bringing two nuclear reactors a step closer to restarting.

Currently, all 48 commercial reactors in Japan are offline.

"All the members approved of giving design remodeling permission to the plant," NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said. "Therefore, we, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, hereby approve the remodeling permission."

The NRA meeting was open to the public, and critics of the decision heckled Tanaka as he spoke.

Some opponents believe that the approval for Sendai is premature, arguing that some safety measures are not yet in place and that certain communities still lack adequate evacuation plans.

A small group of demonstrators gathered outside the NRA meeting to protest against Sendai restarting.

"The Sendai plant is not anywhere near the condition to be able to get approved," said anti-nuclear protester Makoto Yanagida. "Giving it an approval is a big mistake. I think restarting the program will lead japan to its destruction. I want them to understand."

The Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred when a tsunami hit the plant in March 2011. Three of the nuclear reactors melted down, releasing radioactive material.

Fukushima became the largest nuclear incident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

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Japan plans to reopen first nuclear plant since 2011 tsunami