Japan may reopen the world's largest nuclear plant this month on a trial basis, according to a news report Friday.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station located in Niigata prefecture, the world's largest by output, was shut in July 2007 when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake caused radioactive material to leak into the Sea of Japan.

Japanese daily Nikkei said the governor of Niigata had given approval for the plant to reopen and scheduled talks with local town mayors to reach a final agreement for restarting the facility.

The plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., also as known Tepco, had conducted detailed geological study of the area. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry also set up an independent committee of experts to investigate problems around the plant.

The full-year commercial operations would boost Tepco's profit based on current oil prices and foreign exchange rates by more than 70 billion yen ($700 million) a year, Ichiro Takekuro, Tepco Executive vice president told Nikkei.

Japan