Nuclear reactors must be restarted, warns Japanese PM

Protesters against the restart of nuclear power plants, shout slogans in front of the Japanese (Reuters)

Japan's prime minister has appealed to the nation to accept that two nuclear reactors which remain shut down after the Fukushima disaster must be restarted.

Mr Yasuhiko Noda said the government had taken ample measures to ensure the two reactors would be safe from radiation leaks if an earthquake or tsunami as severe as last year's should strike again.

All 50 of Japan's workable reactors are offline for maintenance amid safety concerns since the 2011 tsunami.

The two reactors at the Ohi plant in western Japan are the first ready to resume generating power, but the public is concerned that government failures worsened last year's crisis and could recur.

However, Mr Noda said: "Japanese society cannot survive if we stop all nuclear reactors or keep them halted."

The government wants the reactors back in operation to avoid a summer energy crunch.

AP