Japan will continue restarting nuclear power plants and expand the use of renewable energy to meet growing electricity demand, according to Industry Minister Yoji Muto.
The policy direction aligns with new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's approach, despite his earlier opposition to nuclear power.
Prior to becoming prime minister, Ishiba had advocated for phasing out nuclear energy, but has since shifted focus to increasing renewable energy use, including hydropower, alongside energy conservation measures. Muto reaffirmed this strategy, stating, “We can use renewable power to the maximum, and we will restart nuclear power, the safe one, as much as possible.”
Japan's energy mix last year saw renewable sources account for more than 25% of power generation, while nuclear contributed around 9%. Despite the restarts of nuclear reactors following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the country still relies heavily on coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for electricity.
The high cost of fossil fuel imports, which totaled 12.4 trillion yen ($86 billion) last year, has added pressure on the government to balance energy needs and living costs.
The government plans to restart additional nuclear reactors to stabilize energy supply and lower power prices, though challenges remain. Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the largest in the world, has yet to secure approval from the Niigata prefecture, where local authorities are demanding further safety assurances.
The future of Japan's nuclear policy may also depend on the upcoming House of Representatives election and internal dynamics within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Renewable energy advocates, like Mika Ohbayashi of the Renewable Energy Institute, have highlighted the potential for Japan to eliminate nuclear power entirely, as it did temporarily after the Fukushima disaster.
