The Japanese government on Friday unveiled a long-term energy plan that seeks an end to nuclear power by 2040, responding to strong anti-nuclear sentiment but stopping short of a clear commitment to make the country nuclear free.
The Japanese government on Friday unveiled a long-term energy plan that
seeks an end to nuclear power by 2040, responding to strong anti-nuclear
sentiment but stopping short of a clear commitment to make the country nuclear
free.
The plan, finalized after considerable backstage wrangling, largely rejects
warnings from corporate
Japan
that
moving away from nuclear power could hasten the hollowing out of the country's
battered manufacturing base.
"We will use all possible political resources to realize the goal of
having no nuclear plants operating by the end of the 2030s," the report
from the government's energy and environmental committee said.
The long-awaited decision follows moves by
Germany
last
year to phase out its nuclear plants in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi
crisis. But the plan is unlikely to appease the staunchest opponents of nuclear
power in the earthquake-prone country since it assumes that nuclear energy
production will actually rise from current low levels as at least some currently
idled plants are gradually brought back on line.
In addition, the government said that renouncing nuclear power will require
more discussion.
"Achieving zero-nuclear status is an ambition, not a commitment,"
said a government official after a briefing.
Under the policy, which still requires final endorsement by the Cabinet, a new
nuclear regulatory body will adopt toughened standards to ensure that plants
are safe enough be restarted. But output is not expect to return to the
previous level of nearly 30% of electric output. That figure has fallen to 2.1%
as only two reactors--both at a plant in western
Japan
--have
been restarted in the past 18 months.
As plants reach their lifespan of 40 years, the policy calls for them to be
taken out of service, with all plants off-line "within the 2030s." In
addition no new plants will be built.
The plan also said that uranium enrichment and reprocessing would continue, but
it said that discussions would continue with local authorities and the
international community.
The future of the government's plan is in some doubt, however, given that Prime
Minister Yoshihiko Noda's hold on power is tenuous, with parliament deadlocked
amid fierce attacks by the opposition. Mr. Noda is expected to call fresh
general elections either in November or early next year.
Opinion polls show strong opposition to a renewed heavy reliance on nuclear
power plants, over concern about their resiliency to natural disasters. Of
those responding to a government survey on the issue, some 87% said they wanted
to abandon nuclear power altogether, although broader polls show a more mixed
picture with around 30%-40% wanting Japan to be nuclear free and another
30%-40% saying it should be kept to no more than 15% of the total energy mix.
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