Japanese authorities have requested safety inspections at power plants that have been offline for nearly three years, signalling their intention to get the country’s nuclear network running again.

With all but two of its 50 reactors out of action since the crisis, Japan has been without nuclear energy that once supplied about a third of its power. Four of the nine Japanese nuclear plant operators applied for safety inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority for ten reactors at five plants when new safety requirements took effect this week. The new standards are stricter than in the past and now compulsory too. Only reactors that pass the inspections will be allowed to reopen, no word yet on when that might actually be.

Resumption of nuclear power supplies has been a major part of the current ruling party’s campaign for re-election, utilities contractors have battled soaring gas and oil costs to make up for the shortfall.

The previous safety requirements on Japan’s nuclear industry were surprisingly lax, with companies only having to uphold their own standards to protect their own investments.

Reports say each inspection under new the protocols will be completely thorough and could last for months on each site.