Japan switched on another nuclear reactor Tuesday in a small victory for the government's pro-atomic push, despite strong public opposition following the 2011 Fukushima meltdown.

The reactivation of number three reactor at the Takahama nuclear plant brings the number of running facilities in Japan to five, while dozens more remain offline.

Operators of the No. 4 reactor of Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama nuclear power plant on the Sea of Japan coast work to deliver electricity on May 22, 2017, before starting commercial operation in mid-June. /VCG Photo‍ 

The plant, operated by Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO), is located in Fukui prefecture, around 350 kilometers (215 miles) west of Tokyo.

Tuesday's restart comes after a court ruled the utility could switch on Takahama's number four reactor last month, despite complaints from local residents over safety concerns. The court also gave the green light to switch on the number 3 reactor.

Japan closed down all of its atomic reactors after an earthquake in March 2011 caused a tsunami that led to meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Nos. 3 (L) and 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama plant on the Sea of Japan coast. It was reported on May 30 that the utility plans to resume operation of the No. 3 unit probably on June 6 /VCG Photo 

It became the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

Since then, just a handful of reactors have been put back online due to public opposition and as legal cases work their way through the courts.

However, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has aggressively promoted nuclear energy, calling it essential to powering the world's third-largest economy.

Much of the public remains wary of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster saw radioactive fallout cover a large area, forcing tens of thousands to leave their homes.

(Source: AFP)