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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