Japan to Restore 9 Nuclear Plants to Boost Energy Security

Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagiuda announced that the country plans to restore nine nuclear power plants this year due to energy security reasons.

Japan to Restore 9 Nuclear Plants to Boost Energy Security

Koichi Hagiuda, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Credit: Japanese media

Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagiuda announced that the country plans to restore nine nuclear power plants this year due to energy security reasons.

“We will take all possible measures to guarantee the maximum capacity of power supply this winter, including the safe resumption of operations of the atomic plants,” the minister said at a press briefing.

Five of the planned nuclear units are ready to restart operation, while the remaining four plants are near their due date for periodic inspections, Hagiuda said.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami dealt a severe blow on Japan’s energy self-sufficiency, due to the collapse of the Fukushima I nuclear power plant and the shutdown of other reactors in the country.

Until their shutdown, nuclear energy accounted for about 30% of the country’s electricity supply. Following the disaster and given the country’s scarce energy resources, Japan significantly increased oil imports and liquefied natural gas to meet the domestic demand from the industry, transportation and the household sector.

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