Nov. 4--FUKUOKA -- Kyushu Electric Power Co. said Wednesday it will resume the operation of the No. 3 reactor at its Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture on Thursday, which will lead to the start of Japan's first plutonium-thermal power generation.

The reactor, loaded with plutonium-uranium mixed oxide, or MOX, will go critical as early as Thursday evening to start the power control operations of so-called "pluthermal" electric generation, it said.

Full-fledged operation will begin on Dec. 2 after safety checkups by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.

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