Japan should consider building new nuclear plants: Kishida

Japan should consider developing new nuclear power plants, prime ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Fumio Kushida stated on Wednesday.

This could be a controversial policy shift after the nation suspended a lot of its nuclear plant life in the wake from the 2011 Fukushima devastation.

But Mister Kishida said the particular Ukraine war plus soaring energy expenses highlighted the need for diversifying energy sources.

He added that nuclear power may be necessary to meet Japan’s target of going carbon neutral by 2050.

Aside from thinking of building next-generation nuclear reactors, the government may also look to restart current plants that are presently offline and prolong their lifespans, Mr Kishida said at an energy policy meeting.

Japan had a nuclear emergency in 2011 if a powerful earthquake activated a tsunami, flooding the reactors on the Fukushima nuclear strength plant on the nation’s east coast.

The resulting radiation outflow forced more than a hundred and fifty, 000 people to evacuate from the area.

The country had 50 operational power reactors, but suspended 46 of these after the disaster, based on the International Atomic Energy Agency.

As of April 2021, 9 reactors had came back to operation whilst 14 others were under review.