14 DAY TRIAL // High officials in Japan have recently decided that the time has come for the country to give nuclear energy another try.
Japan pulled the plug on all but two of its reactors about two years ago, in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant was hit by both an earthquake and a tsunami.
This caused it to suffer several failures and meltdowns that translated into a nuclear disaster fit to put the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 to shame.
Since then, the country has been struggling to have its energy demands met with the help of thermal power plants.
These failed to efficiently fill in the energy gap caused by the shutting down of the nuclear plants, hence an increase in energy costs.
The Verge reports that, after carefully analyzing the pros and cons of reopening the nuclear reactors that were shut down shortly after Fukushima, authorities agreed that, given the proper safety requirements, there were no reasons why Japan should not once again rely on nuclear power.
Information shared with the public says that the new safety regulation rolled out by Japan's nuclear authority will go into effect this coming July 8.
Once this happens, nuclear reactors operators will be able to spruce up the facilities under their care and then apply for inspections.
The nuclear reactors will be given the green light to reopen or will be forced to remain shut down based on the outcome of such inspections.
High officials wish to reassure the public that these new safety requirements for nuclear reactors will be constantly revised. Thus, they will be updated as often as needed to make sure that the facilities do in fact abide by the latest global standards concerning the safest way to harness nuclear power.
Should things go as planned, some of Japan's nuclear plants could be up and running by the end of this year. Others are expected to reopen in the first few months of 2014.