Japan plans to build next-generation nuclear reactors – Le Figaro

This statement by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida comes in a context of strong global energy tensions. The Japanese government intends to give a serious boost to the revival of nuclear power in the country, a weakened and controversial sector since the Fukushima disaster in 2011 but which is coming back into favor in the face of strong global energy tensions. To read also Faced with the Chinese threat, Japan plans to improve its long-range missiles Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday that a reflection would be carried out on several fronts, including on the possible construction of “new generation nuclear reactors”, which would be a major turning point for Japan. “Potential crisis scenarios in the future” justified Fumio Kishida in front of the press, and therefore “Japan must take into account potential crisis scenarios in the future”. He also called for “maximizing” the use of existing nuclear reactors that have obtained regulatory authorizations to restart since the Fukushima disaster. “In addition to securing the operations of the ten reactors already returned to service, the government will endeavor to do whatever is necessary” to restart other old reactors that have obtained regulatory green lights as soon as possible, the government said. Prime Minister. Like many other countries, Japan has suffered from significantly more expensive and tighter energy supplies since the start of the war in Ukraine six months ago. Also aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, Japan was also threatened with electricity shortages this summer due to scorching temperatures causing the air conditioning to run at full speed. for the ocean? The entire Japanese nuclear fleet was shut down after the disaster at the Fukushima power plant, following a powerful earthquake and a gigantic tsunami in the northeast. Out of 33 theoretically operable reactors, only 10 have since restarted after complying with considerably higher safety standards. But these 10 reactors do not operate permanently and several of them are currently undergoing maintenance. In 2020, less than 5% of the electricity generated in Japan came from nuclear, compared to 30% before the Fukushima disaster. The archipelago is very dependent on its fossil fuel imports and is also seeking to boost its renewable energies. SEE ALSO – Should new nuclear power plants be built?