World Bulletin / News Desk

Tokyo Electric Power Co, the operator of the crippled Fukushima plant, received a green light on Thursday to apply to restart the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant.

This brings the troubled utility a step closer to achieving a core element of its turnaround plan.

Japan's Niigata prefecture, which is home to Tokyo Electric's largest nuclear power plant, said in a brief statement it will allow the utility to apply for safety approvals with the nuclear regulator.

The utility did not have any immediate comment.

Tokyo Electric had previously said it would not apply to restart the plant without local approval. Niigatagovernor Hirohiko Izumida has been a vocal opponent of Tokyo Electric.