[Yomuiri Shimbun, 6 January] Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) is preparing plans regarding test operation of its shutdown Kashiwazaki Kariwa 7 reactor for submission to the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety agency (Nisa). The reactor, a 1315 MWe boiling water model, has been out of action along with the other six units on site since the July 2007 Niigata offshore earthquake. All the reactors remained safe during the tremors, but suffered widespread minor damage. Repairs and seismic reinforcement work were completed in March 2008, the newspaper said, and Tepco hopes trial operation will demonstrate it is safe to prepare for a full restart later this year.