Japan will restart more idled nuclear plants and look at developing next-generation reactors, PM Kishida says, setting the stage for a major policy shift on nuclear energy a decade after the Fukushima disaster.
The comments from Kishida — who also said the government would look at extending the lifespan of existing reactors — highlight how the Ukraine crisis and soaring energy costs have forced both a change in public opinion and a policy rethink toward nuclear power.
Kishida told reporters he had instructed officials to come up with concrete measures by the year end, including on “gaining the understanding of the public” on sustainable energy and nuclear power. Public opinion has also shifted, as fuel prices have risen and an early and hot summer spurred calls for energy-saving.
As of late July, Japan had seven operating reactors, with three others offline due to maintenance. Many others are still going through a relicensing process under stricter safety standards imposed after Fukushima.
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