Future of Japanese nuclear still in the dark

• 11 years ago (2012-12-28)
• Junior Isles

Asia 892 Nuclear 659

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Japan’s newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has failed to agree with its coalition partner Komeito on an expiry date for Japan’s nuclear programme.

Current plans only commit them to gradually decreasing Japan's reliance on nuclear, without specifying if or when all nuclear power plants should be replaced.

Komeito's campaign pledge had said that the party would endeavour to achieve "zero nuclear power" as soon as possible.

Japanese public opinion is resolutely in favour of ending nuclear power generation, so it is unlikely that LDP-Komeito coalition can ignore the call indefinitely.

In its election campaign pledge, the LDP was wilfully opaque on its views about nuclear power generation, saying only that it would establish the best sustainable power generation mix within 10 years.

LDP leader Shinzo Abe had previously criticised the Democratic Party's call for ending nuclear power generation by the 2030s, branding the DPJ policy as irresponsible.