• Home
  • About
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Russia
  • South Asia
  • Space
  • World
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Contributors
  • Write For Us
  • Contact Us
Facebook Twitter YouTube
  • Leaders
  • States
  • Networks
  • Ideologies
  • Technologies
Facebook Twitter YouTube
Globely NewsGlobely News
  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Russia
  • South Asia
  • Space
  • World
Subscribe
Trending
  • How the African Union Can the Most of Its G20 Membership
  • Unpacking China’s Moves to Regulate Generative AI
  • Canadian Sikh Killing Should Be the West’s Wakeup Call on India
  • Ukraine’s Allies Are Showing Signs of War Fatigue
  • Zelensky Seeks Biden and Trudeau Support for Long War
  • Race for Green Metals Goes to South Asia
  • The Ukraine War Is Accelerating the Global Spread of Dangerous Weapons
  • The Ukraine War Will Go On for a Long Time
Globely NewsGlobely News
Home » Japan Eyes More Nuclear Power for Energy Security
Asia

Japan Eyes More Nuclear Power for Energy Security

Parul BakshiBy Parul BakshiMarch 14, 2023
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp
japan nuclear energy power
Even if nuclear power supplies only 10 percent of Japan’s electricity after 2050, more than 10 new reactors may have to be built.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Reddit WhatsApp

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Japan to reevaluate its energy strategy once again. A sharp rise in the price of LNG, a lack of energy alternatives to reduce reliance on Russian LNG imports and Tokyo’s commitment to phasing out Russian coal and oil imports — all while ensuring Japan’s energy security — are making this reevaluation difficult. Even measures such as wearing turtlenecks to reduce energy consumption have been suggested.

The Japanese government is unsurprisingly using the uncertainty around energy security as a reason to proactively push its nuclear energy policy. The policy can be traced to former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s administration. In 2012, following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Abe put nuclear energy back on the table as a potential critical energy source for Japan. Nuclear power has been touted as an important pillar in enhancing Japan’s energy self-sufficiency. Its use is also proposed as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, meet decarbonization targets, and serve as a valuable source of baseload electricity. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been emphasizing the importance of nuclear power, calling for accelerating nuclear energy use on several occasions in the past year.

But the Kishida cabinet’s Green Transformation (GX) strategic plan is being criticized for merely restating Japan’s decade-old energy policy goals while pledging to accelerate the previously promised trend of nuclear energy use over the next ten years. GX assumes that nuclear power will account for 20–22 percent of Japan’s energy mix in 2030 — a target that the Japanese government proposed in its Basic Energy Plan in 2014. In 2022, though, nuclear power only accounted for around 8 percent of electricity supply.

Kishida’s government hopes to extend the operation of nuclear power plants beyond the current 60-year limit to achieve this target. While the government believes life extensions are considerably cheaper than building new plants, they still represent substantial capital investments. The International Energy Agency estimates that extending the operational life of one gigawatt of nuclear capacity for at least 10 years costs $500 million to $1 billion. Even though countries like the United States have extended the lifespan of their reactors, no reactor in the world has been in commercial operation for more than 60 years.

Kishida’s cabinet also proposes replacing aging nuclear facilities with new technologies like light-water reactors, small nuclear reactors, and nuclear fusion. While these technologies could be promising, their present commercial viability is questionable.

Even if nuclear power supplies only 10 percent of Japan’s electricity after 2050, more than 10 new reactors may have to be built. Reactor restarts also incur significant costs ranging from $700 million to $1 billion per unit, regardless of reactor size or age. From the 2011 financial year to March 2017, total restart costs were estimated to be 1900 billion yen ($17 billion) for eight companies, according to a Japan Atomic Industrial Forum survey.

Yet according to polling by Nikkei, 53 percent of Japanese support restarting reactors so long as safety can be ensured — the first time a majority has favored this in over a decade. But stringent safety regulations, Nuclear Regulation Authority inspections, and citizens’ class action lawsuits against reactors have hindered the desired pace of a post-Fukushima return to nuclear power. These bottlenecks continue to exist, even while public opinion might be shifting. However, over 3000 public comments received were critical of the nuclear policy shift. As a result, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry, has stated that the government’s plan would be explained clearly to deepen public understanding of it.

In response to Kishida’s announcement to consider the construction of new nuclear power plants in Japan, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated reasons why the policy could fail. Other than stressing safety and financial concerns, he emphasized the dangers of nuclear waste and the challenges in finding a disposal site.

Previously, observers have highlighted the need for Japan to provide more clarity on its nuclear energy policy, especially regarding the fate of existing nuclear reactors. The steps the government is taking to promote nuclear energy show the direction Japan intends to take. But there continue to be questions about how the government’s goals related to nuclear energy will be achieved — especially around issues such as radioactive waste treatment, risk minimization, and commercial feasibility.

Stable political leadership, consistent stakeholder engagement, and appropriate legislation are required to make the government’s vision for nuclear energy to become a critical element in Japan’s energy mix a reality. But the government should be mindful of cost–benefit analyses and ensure the push for nuclear energy does not come at the cost of reversing the expansion of renewables.

This article was originally published on the East Asia Forum.

Parul Bakshi

Parul Bakshi holds a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. She is a former special research student and Japan Foundation fellow at the University of Tokyo, Japan. She is a co-editor of India-Japan Relations @70: Building Beyond the Bilateral.

    This author does not have any more posts.
Energy Japan LNG Nuclear Energy

More from Globely News

China Could Unseat Japan as Top Auto Exporter

July 12, 2023

The Problem With Offshore Wind Power

July 12, 2023

Chile Shows How Latin America’s Renewable Energy Boom Can Go Beyond China

July 12, 2023

U.S. Clean Energy Jobs Growth Beat Overall Employment in 2022

July 11, 2023

Sanctions Hit Russia Oil Revenues, But Moscow Has Tricks Up Its Sleeve

July 11, 2023

Here’s Where Gas is the Most Expensive in the U.S.

June 27, 2023
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Globely Daily

Our flagship newsletter covers the leaders, states, networks, ideologies, and technologies that are transforming world power.

How the African Union Can the Most of Its G20 Membership

September 27, 2023

Unpacking China’s Moves to Regulate Generative AI

September 27, 2023

Canadian Sikh Killing Should Be the West’s Wakeup Call on India

September 26, 2023

Ukraine’s Allies Are Showing Signs of War Fatigue

September 26, 2023
© 2023 Globely News.
  • Home
  • About
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors
  • Write For Us
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
SettingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Ad Blocker Enabled

Ad Blocker Enabled
Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.
Go to mobile version