Japan Sees Greater Future Role for Nuclear Energy

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released a draft revision of the country's basic energy plan, removing the statement that the country would reduce its dependence on nuclear power.

The revised policy calls for the use of as much renewable and nuclear energy as possible in order to achieve decarbonisation. It says renewable energy should account for about 40-50% of the country's power generation mix in fiscal 2040, about double the current level. Nuclear energy should account for around 20% of power production by 2040.

Prior to the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, Japan's 54 reactors had provided around 30% of the country's electricity. However, within 14 months of the accident, the country's nuclear generation had been brought to a standstill pending regulatory change.