"We urge the government to take into full consideration the tremendous suffering from the nuclear power plant accident and make sure that future policy ensures the safety and peace of mind of all citizens," Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori said, when asked about restarts.

Kyushu Electric Power Co will be given the greenlight to restart two nuclear units in southwestern Japan, with June pencilled in for the first unit, according to three sources familiar with the government's thinking. They declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with media.

By June, Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority is expected to have completed the final checks and appraisal of the reactors at Kyushu Electric's Sendai station, letting Abe give the final go-ahead after local authority approval late last year.

A June restart would also mean local elections scheduled for April would be out of the way, giving the government some leeway to take such a potentially unpopular step.

An industry ministry spokesman said no announcement had been made on Sendai's restart date.

A gradual return to nuclear would not immediately end Japan's heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports that has stoked a record trade deficit.