Japan hopes to build a new generation of nuclear reactors and restart decommissioned power plants 11 years after the Fukushima accident that undermined the country’s dependence on nuclear energy.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he has instructed a government commission to study how to use next-generation nuclear reactors equipped with new safety mechanisms.
He stated that this strategy will help Japan achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The change, which could include extending the life of existing reactors, highlighted Japan’s struggle to secure stable energy supplies in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine and rising energy prices.
The British newspaper The Guardian reported that since the disaster in March 2011, when a powerful tsunami destroyed the backup power source at Fukushima Daiichi, successive governments were forced to reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear energy, which led to the collapse of three of its six reactors . .
Since then, most of Japan’s nuclear plants have been idle, and the government has said it will not build new reactors or replace old ones for fear of public backlash. If Kishida’s plans come to fruition, it will mean a dramatic change in the situation.
“The Russian military operation in Ukraine has resulted in a major transformation of the global energy landscape,” Prime Minister Fumio Keshide said during an energy policy meeting this week. “Japan needs to be aware of possible crisis scenarios.”
“To overcome the impending crisis caused by the energy crisis, we must take the maximum steps to mobilize all possible policies in the coming years and prepare for any emergency,” he said.
For his part, Japanese Minister of Economy and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said it was very important to ensure all options for rebuilding the country’s stable energy supply, adding: “From this point of view, we will also consider all options related to nuclear energy.”
Kishida acknowledged that the government must win the support of the public, which rebelled against nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster, and officials believe that voters are becoming more receptive to nuclear power due to rising fuel costs and after the energy crisis. in Tokyo during the recent heat wave, especially since the country is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.
Seven reactors are currently in operation, three have been shut down for regular safety checks, and dozens of others are still being relicensed to comply with stricter safety standards introduced in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster.
This, and the government, will consider extending the life of existing reactors beyond the legal limit, eliminating the period during which they remain closed, and plants can operate up to 40 years in principle, but can continue to generate electricity for another 20 years. if they have passed security upgrades and have passed the checks carried out by the organizers.
Source: British newspaper The Guardian