Japan abandons nuclear power expansion plans

• 13 years ago (2011-05-12)
• David Flin

Asia 892 North America 1021 Nuclear 659 Renewables 776

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Japan’s Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, has announced that the country will abandon plans to expand its nuclear power industry, and instead will make renewables a key part of its energy policy. Kan said that he would “start from scratch” a policy that planned for nuclear power increasing its share of electricity generation from 30 percent to 50 percent.

Japan had planned to build at least 14 new reactors over the next 20 years, but policymakers have decided that this will not be possible following the Fukushima crisis arising from the tsunami two months ago. This follows Kan’s order to close the Hamaoka nuclear power plant while a new tsunami wall is built.

Kan said that renewables, which currently make up 20 percent of overall supply, would have a bigger role to play in Japan’s energy mix. He said: “I think it is necessary to move in the direction of promoting natural energy and renewable energy, such as wind, solar and biomass.” However, Kan also said that Japan would continue to use fossil fuel, and ruled out an abandonment of nuclear power. He said: “We need to start from scratch. We need to make nuclear energy safer and do more to promote renewable energy. I believe the government bears a major responsibility for having promoted nuclear energy as national policy. I apologise to the people for failing to prevent the nuclear accident.”