Japan Safety a priority in push to reopen more nuclear plants

The Mihama nuclear power station in Fukui prefecture, which started operations in the 1970s, is one of Japan's oldest. It was suspended in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, along with all other nuclear plants in the country.

- Audrey Tan

But as Japan pushes to achieve energy security and affordability in a climate-friendly way, the government is looking to restart more plants - just like the Mihama plant, which resumed operations in 2021.

According to the International Energy Agency, about 8 per cent of Japan's energy generation in 2023 came from nuclear power – down from 30 per cent before 2011. Almost 64 per cent came from fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and climate change.

But the nuclear reactions that produce energy do not release such emissions as by-products. Japan wants to increase the share of nuclear power in the energy mix to at least 20 per cent by 2030.

Mr Satoru Yasuraoka, director for international affairs at the nuclear energy policy division of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, told The Straits Times that while the Japanese government plans to increase the amount of renewable energy deployed, its ability to tap more renewables is constrained by geography.

“Japan has decided under our (energy policy) to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Nuclear energy is expected to contribute to our goal of achieving energy sufficiency, affordability and environmental (considerations) - but with maximum safety,” he said.

About 70 per cent of Japan's land area comprises hilly terrain, which is not ideal for the installation of renewable energy infrastructure such as solar panels.

This is why nuclear energy is regarded as a key plank in Japan's net-zero carbon emission push despite the disaster of 2011.

In March that year, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that slammed into the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the Pacific coast, crippling cooling systems at the plant and causing a nuclear meltdown.