TOKYO – Japan’s economy ministry is contemplating permitting the expansion of nuclear plants as older ones are being decommissioned, according to a report by the Asahi newspaper.
The proposed permission would likely be part of revisions to Japan’s national energy strategy, which is reviewed every three years. The revision is expected to include a provision allowing power companies that are decommissioning nuclear plants to build new reactors at existing nuclear power plant sites, according to the Asahi.
The updated energy strategy is anticipated to frame the change as “replacing” nuclear plants, ensuring that the overall number of plants does not increase, according to the report.
Nuclear energy remains a politically sensitive topic in Japan, particularly after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The current national energy strategy aims to reduce dependency on nuclear power as much as possible.
Japan has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by the middle of this century. The potential expansion of nuclear power plants could play a crucial role in meeting these environmental targets while balancing energy needs.