TOKYO - Prime Minister Yasuhiko Noda says Japan must restart two nuclear reactors to protect the economy and people's livelihoods.

Noda said Friday in a news conference broadcast live to the nation that the government has taken ample measures to ensure the safety of the two reactors at the Ohi nuclear plant in western Japan.

All 50 workable reactors are offline for maintenance and safety concerns. Restarting them has been a public concern because of the Fukushima disaster last year.

Noda's government is desperately seeking to gain public support to restart the reactors to avert a summertime energy crunch.