Tokyo sets sights on revival of nuclear energy fourteen years after Fukushima

The Japanese government has decided to revise its nuclear energy policy guidelines, as it prepares for a projected electricity supply shortage caused by the retirement of ageing reactors.

The decision sees the rebuilding of two to five nuclear power reactors by the 2040s and was approved at a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers held at the prime minister’s office on July 31, as Japanese media reports. 

Tokyo said the plan is aimed at addressing future power shortages as existing nuclear reactors reach the end of their operating lifespans, with some expected to be decommissioned after 60 years of service.

“We will move forward with policies to ensure investment in nuclear power plants,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said during the meeting, indicating that the government will also support initiatives to develop skilled personnel needed for the nuclear sector.

Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa outlined measures aimed at reducing the burden on local governments and accelerating the selection process for final disposal sites for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear facilities. The government plans to revise its basic policy on selecting such locations to help move the process forward.

The move marks the first time since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster that the Japanese government as a whole has set a concrete target for rebuilding nuclear power plants.

Following the triple meltdown at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Fukushima No. 1 plant, Japan sharply reduced its reliance on nuclear energy, with many reactors shut down and public opposition increasing. In recent years, however, the government has sought to revive nuclear power as part of efforts to strengthen energy security, reduce emissions and meet rising electricity demand from industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing.

By Nazrin Sadigova