Japan studies plan to extend life of 60-year-old nuclear plants

TOKYO - Japan is considering keeping some nuclear reactors operating beyond a current 60-year limit as the country focuses increasingly on atomic power as a solution to an ongoing squeeze on energy supply.

Officials are studying a plan to exclude periods when reactors were offline from an existing limit on their lifespan, which would

allow some facilities to operate for longer,

according to a document released on Monday by a trade ministry panel. Reactors are often halted for years to allow the nation’s nuclear watchdog to perform inspections, or as a result of legal challenges. 

The proposal comes as the Japanese public and government shift back in favour of nuclear power, despite experiencing one of the worst atomic meltdown disasters at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. The import-dependent country has grappled in 2022 with more expensive fossil fuel prices as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, along with a weak yen, and seen its stretched power grid put under severe pressure. 

Japan’s government has

repeatedly asked people to take steps to limit their electricity consumption

by using fewer appliances or cutting back on heating. 

In August, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government will

explore developing and constructing new reactors,

and that it will also aim to restart seven more idled reactors from next summer.  

The trade ministry proposals also call for new, next-generation nuclear reactors to be built at sites where existing units will be decommissioned.  

Japanese manufacturers have already announced plans to develop next-generation reactors.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is jointly developing an advanced light water reactor with four other Japanese power producers, while a venture between Hitachi and General Electric is also reported to be developing a new reactor model. BLOOMBERG