Japan’s government approved a new policy on Thursday to maximize nuclear energy use in a major turnaround after the country shut down most of its nuclear reactors in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The guidelines will require the development of next-generation reactors and allow extending the lifespans of nuclear reactors beyond the current maximum of 60 years. It also allows replacing aging nuclear reactors with new ones to ensure a stable power supply.
The approval came a day after Japan’s nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, approved a draft review of nuclear reactor safety regulations. The new policy will still need to be put into law and approved by parliament.
Kishida said that he planned to get the Cabinet to approve the policy and submit the necessary bills to Parliament.
Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste that endangers human health, but Kishida assured that the government will establish a final disposal site to ensure proper disposal.
Under the new policy, operators of reactors that have been in operation for 30 years must develop a long-term reactor management plan and obtain regulatory approval at least once every 10 years to continue operating.
The government planned to expand transmission lines by more than eight-fold over the next 10 years as part of efforts to maximize nuclear energy use.
Under the new policy, Japan will also push for the development and construction of “next-generation innovative reactors” to replace about 20 reactors now set for decommissioning.
“In order to overcome our imminent crisis of a power supply crunch, we must take our utmost steps to mobilize all possible policies in the coming years and prepare for any emergency,” Kishida said.
Japan had only allowed 10 of the 33 operable nuclear reactors to restart after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. But rising energy prices, along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and power outages during the summer and winter pushed the government to revive some nuclear plants.
