Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed the authorities concerned to consider developing safer, smaller nuclear reactors, signalling a renewed emphasis on nuclear energy in a bid to support amid global fuel crisis years after many of the country’s plants were shut down.
Kishida was speaking on Wednesday at a “green transformation” conference on bolstering the country’s efforts to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.
Japan has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
He said the government would look at extending the lifespan of existing reactors – highlight how the Ukraine crisis and soaring energy costs have forced a change in public opinion and a policy rethink towards nuclear power, reports Aljazeera.
Japan had previously insisted it was not considering building new plants or replacing aged reactors, apparently to avoid stoking criticisms from people wary of nuclear fuel following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster.
The prime minister said the panel presented proposals for the development and construction of “new innovative reactors designed with new safety mechanisms.”
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
