Japan nuclear plant obtains all permits needed for restart

TOKYO — A nuclear power plant in southern Japan has obtained all necessary permits to restart its two reactors, planned as early as late July.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said Wednesday that it had approved operational safety plans for the Sendai nuclear power station’s two reactors, owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co.

The plant’s safety program includes emergency response plans in case of fire, flooding or other natural disasters, or a serious accident. The program’s approval was the last step of the authority’s three-part screening process that the utility needed to pass.

The Sendai plant won safety approval in September for its reactors and equipment under tighter rules set after the 2011 Fukushima disaster and was expected to be the first to restart.

All of Japan’s more than 40 reactors are offline.