Japan is making progress in getting the go-ahead from local authorities to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the world’s largest nuclear power plant, located north of Tokyo.
According to reports in Niigata Nippo, a Japanese newspaper, Ken Saito, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, is expected to make a formal request next week to the governor of Niigata to authorize the operation of this nuclear power plant.
Reactivation of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant
Since the Fukushima accident in 2011, Japan suspended the operation of its nuclear plants, subjecting them to strict safety reviews and procedures. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has been inactive since 2012 and in 2021, the Nuclear Regulation Authority prevented Tepco, the company in charge, from operating due to failures in safety measures.
However, in December 2023, this operating restriction was lifted, representing a crucial step towards the plant’s resumption of operations, conditional on the approval of Niigata, the city of Kashiwazaki and the village of Kariwa. This move is part of a broader effort by Japan to reintroduce nuclear power into the nuclear power as one of its main energy sources, in response to the recent global energy crisis and the resulting increase in fossil fuel prices.
Energy demand in Japan
Japan, a country with limited natural resources that imports approximately 90% of its energy needs, has drastically modified its nuclear policy by the end of 2022 after experiencing a significant increase in the cost of importing energy, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG), which reached unprecedented prices.
In December 2022, the Japanese government made official a new nuclear energy strategy, reversing the post-Fukushima trend away from this energy source. In addition, a committee of experts from the Ministry of Industry has decided to allow the construction of new nuclear reactors and to extend the useful life of existing ones beyond the established 60-year limit.
Importantly, the renewed strategy towards nuclear power, coupled with increased renewable energy generation and high natural gas inventories, has led to a significant reduction in Japan’s LNG imports, reaching the lowest levels in recent years.
This renewed focus on nuclear power in Japan highlights the urgency of addressing contemporary energy challenges and the need to balance safety with sustainability. The decision to reactivate Kashiwazaki-Kariwa and potentially develop new reactors underscores the complex dynamics between technological advancement, environmental management and energy security. As Japan embarks on this path, it also sets a precedent for other countries in the search for energy solutions that are both sustainable and safe.
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Source: oilprice.com
Photo: shutterstock
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