The governors of Hokkaido and Shimane indicated their approval Friday of plans by utilities to build new nuclear reactors in their prefectures.
The decisions by Hokkaido Gov. Tatsuya Hori and Shimane Gov. Nobuyoshi Sumita are the first approval for construction of new nuclear plants since the deadly criticality accident last September at a uranium fuel plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Early Friday, Hori hinted to the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly that he may approve Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s plan to construct a new reactor at its nuclear plant in the village of Tomari, west of Sapporo.