Hideo Kishimoto, mayor of Genkai, Saga Prefecture in southwestern Japan, approved Monday the resumption of two suspended reactors at the Genkai nuclear power plant, local press reported.

Kishimoto conveyed his approval to Kyushu Electric Power Co. President Toshio Manabe in a meeting, the report said. It is the first time that a Japanese municipality gives the nod to restart reactors since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima No 1 power plant.

Attention now turns to whether Saga Governor Yasushi Furukawa will also agree to the resumption. Furukawa is expected to make a decision on the issue in mid-July.

Two of the Genkai plant's four reactors, the No 2 and No 3 units, are currently shut down for regular checks. Their restart was postponed in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No 1 nuclear plant.

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