Amid energy supply concerns, Japan says no to new nuclear plants

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Despite concerns over stable energy supplies, Japan on Tuesday ruled out building any new nuclear power plants.

“Taking into account the Ukraine crisis and concerns over a power supply crunch, we will make the most of what we have, including nuclear power,” Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference in Tokyo.

Japan has 36 nuclear power plants, with only 10 of them operational.

“Efforts will also be directed at developing a new type of nuclear reactor as well as talent,” he added.

However, Hagiuda said Japan is “not considering building any new nuclear power plants despite mounting energy security concerns,” Kyodo News reported.

Japan has imposed punishing sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine. It has, however, refused to shut supplies of energy from Russia from where it imported around 3.6 % of its crude oil and 8.8% of its liquefied natural gas last year.

Last month, Hagiuda said Japan limited resources, and “it is difficult for us to immediately align ourselves with the EU.”

His comments came after the EU said it was also mulling a ban on all oil imports from Russia by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, calling for “swift resumption” of idled nuclear reactors, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked the government “to clarify the status” of nuclear power in the government’s energy strategy.

After the devastating earthquake and tsunami that wreaked havoc at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in March 2011, Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy introduced stricter safety regulations.

More so, many nuclear reactors are approaching their 40-year operating limits, which means they will have to undergo new regulatory checks, making it difficult for their possible new operations.

Japan aims to generate 20% to 22% of its total power generation from nuclear plants by 2030.