The No. 3 reactor is scheduled to start electricity generation and transmission on Friday, the power supplier chiefly for the Kansai region, western Japan, said. It is expected to shift to a commercial mode in early July, Kansai Electric added.

The No. 3 unit became the fifth nuclear reactor operating in Japan.

The four others are the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s <9508> Sendai plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, the No. 3 reactor at Shikoku Electric Power Co.'s Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, and the No. 4 reactor at the Takahama plant. (Jiji Press)