Tohoku Electric utlilizes 34-MW gas turbine

Tohoku Electric has started trial power output from the 34-megawatt No.6 gas turbine unit at its Niigata energy plant.

This is part of emergency measures to avoid electricity outages amid the loss of nuclear power following the March earthquake, reports Reuters.

The company plans to start commercial operations next month.

The northern utility has been struggling to maintain stable power supplies to its customers, and has needed help from Tokyo Electric Power Co and Hokkaido Electric Power.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami crippled Tokyo Electric's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, decimating public confidence in atomic power. The natural disaster also damaged several power plants in the northeast.