Japan Plans Nuclear Rebuild to Secure Power Supply

Japan will need to rebuild large parts of its nuclear power industry in the coming decades to ensure a stable electricity supply, according to a draft policy by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry that envisages the construction of new reactors.

The document says the country will need to replace between two and five aging reactors by the 2040s and between 11 and 14 by the 2050s. The new plants would have a combined capacity of about 16 gigawatts.

The proposal reflects Tokyo’s growing focus on nuclear power as it seeks to meet rising electricity demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports. Further pressure is expected from the expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence technologies.

Japan shut down all 54 of its reactors after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. Of the 33 units that remain technically operable, 15 have so far been restarted.

Last year, the government revised its energy strategy and set a target for nuclear power to provide about 20% of the electricity mix by fiscal 2040. Many existing reactors, however, are approaching the 60-year mark or have already reached it.

(reuters, max)