Two Japanese power companies have announced they will scrap three ageing nuclear reactors. It marks the first moves to permanently shut down nuclear reactors since the Fukushima disaster four years ago.

Another two are expected to be scrapped with announcements expected later this week. The companies said it would be too costly to revamp reactors to meet new stricter regulations.

The government is working on a new energy plan which will likely lead to other reactors being decommissioned.

Before the Fukushima disaster 30 percent of Japan’s electricity was generated by nuclear power. All 48 reactors were taken offline in 2011, when an earthquake and tsunami set off meltdowns at TEPCO’s Fukushima plant. It appears as many as two-thirds of the reactors may never come back online due to high costs or local opposition.

It comes as UN delegates at the disaster risk reduction conference visited a local fishing cooperative in Soma City which monitors radiation in their catch following r