Japan's nuclear watchdog has approved new safety requirements for atomic power plants, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster.
The new measures, approved by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, will take effect on July 8 when operators will be able to apply for inspections.
If plants pass the inspections - a process expected to take several months - they can reopen later this year or early in 2014.
All but two of Japan's 50 reactors have been offline since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered multiple meltdowns and massive radiation leaks at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, 160 miles from Tokyo.
The plant, which barely runs on a precarious cooling system, has struggled with swelling contaminated water leaking out of broken reactors.
The guidelines require plants to prevent radiation leaks after accidents Wednesday's decision comes nearly two weeks ahead of the legal deadline, with critics claiming it has been brought forward due to industrial and political pressure.
Utilities have complained about soaring fuel costs to run conventional thermal power plants to make up for the shortfall.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pro-industry government has quickly reversed a nuclear phase-out plan since taking office last December, saying nuclear energy is key to Japan's economy.
Critics say the new requirements still have loopholes that make things easier for operators, including a five-year grace period on installing some mandated new equipment.
They also said the approvals only concern resuming reactor operations, while nearby communities lag behind in enacting relevant emergency and evacuation procedures.
The new requirements for the first time make it compulsory for plants to take steps to guard against radiation leaks in the case of severe accidents such as a core melt, install emergency command centres and enact anti-terrorist measures.
Operators are also required to upgrade their protection against tsunamis and earthquakes.
Fukushima Dai-ichi operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., or TEPCO, came under harsh criticism for underestimating the tsunami risk and building a seawall that was too low.
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