The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, suggested on Friday that in its next basic energy policy, the government should “clearly outline a policy to maximize the use of energy sources that contribute to the country’s energy security and have major decarbonization effects, such as renewable energy sources and nuclear energy.”
“Concerns about future energy shortages cannot be allayed and there will be no choice but to reduce domestic capital expenditure as a result if the government fails to clarify a path to expand the use of such energy sources.
The proposal noted that Japan is facing its toughest energy challenges since the oil crises of the 1970s and 1980s. Keidanren predicts that unstable international situations, decarbonization and progress in digital transformation will drive electric energy demand in the future and stressed that securing cheap and stable clean energy sources, such as nuclear energy, is essential.
It claimed that the country’s energy supply capabilities will decline in the 2040s and beyond unless the restart of currently idled nuclear reactors is accelerated – provided their safety is guaranteed – existing nuclear power plants are rebuilt and new nuclear power plants are built.
Keidanren also underlined the need to quickly implement plans for the construction of innovative light water reactors with improved safety.
Furthermore, it called on the government to set numerical targets for nuclear energy capacity for 2040 and 2050.
