Hokkaido Electric Power has become the first Japanese utility to restart a nuclear reactor since the March earthquake and tsunami led to the closure of 35 of the country's 54 reactors. However, despite the regional governor allowing the Tomari No. 3 unit to go online, other local governments look unlikely to follow suit. Uncertainty as to when the reactors might restart grew after the government recently decided to carry out "stress tests" at all reactors before they can reopen. Consumption of LNG by Japan's 10 utilities was 30.8% higher in June than it was a year earlier, as LNG demand shot up in the wake of the Mar. 11 disaster at the Fulkushirna-Daiichi nuclear power plant.
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