TOKYO: Japan braced on Wednesday (Jun 29) because of its hottest day yet of a record-breaking June heatwave as concerns grew about a lack of electricity to keep air conditioners whirring plus Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the ramp-up of nuclear power use.
As some producers announced plans in order to scale back production to save electricity, temperatures of around 40 levels Celsius were predicted in areas around Tokyo on the 5th day of a heatwave that has seen the Japanese capital sizzle under its worst 06 heat since 1875.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast Tokyo temperatures is not going to drop back to thirty degrees Celsius till Jul 5.
“The electricity need and supply situation will be expected to be the hardest in the last three days (of this week), ” an industry ministry official told reporters. Power demand within Tokyo and its area early on Wednesday mid-day could match maximum summer levels of the last few years, the official said.
The prepared electricity supply has incorporated everything that can be done as of Wednesday as additional measures, based on national grid keep track of OCCTO.
Showing the tightness of the squeeze on assets, an OCCTO mid-morning estimate showed the reserve ratio associated with power generation capacity for the Tokyo region could fall as low as 2 . 6 % between 4. 30pm and 5pm nearby time on Wednesday – below the particular minimum threshold of 3 per cent considered necessary to ensure steady supply.
Excellent Minister Kishida stated he would do his utmost to secure sufficient power supply in Japan, telling a news conference following a Group of Seven (G7) summit he would make the finest possible use of nuclear power as long as basic safety is assured.
Most of Japan’s nuclear plants have been stopped since the Mar 11, 2011 tsunami that will set off the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Meanwhile power companies are rushing to restart thermal power plant life that have been shut down and calls are increasing for additional use of alternate energy sources, including restarting reactors.
As officials again called on households to save electricity as best they can – without having stinting on ac where it would risk the health of the vulnerable – some businesses furthermore pledged to cut back on their usual operations to save power.
In a single example, auto parts maker Yorozu Corp said it would near all its manufacturing plants for a minimum of two days a month from July through Sept.
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