Japan plans to rebuild ageing nuclear plants: report

Japan plans to rebuild two to five old nuclear reactors by the 2040s and 11 to 14 by the 2050s in a bid to secure stable power supply, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The proposal, which the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will outline at a meeting on nuclear policy, reflects a shift towards greater reliance on atomic energy to help meet growing energy demand and reduce costly fuel imports.

Japan shut down 54 of its operating nuclear reactors after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster due to public fear about the industry’s safety standards. Of the 33 units that remained operational, 15 were restarted.

Tokyo last year revised its key energy policy to maximize the use of nuclear energy. But many reactors are approaching or exceeding their 60-year operating life, raising concerns about a future decline in nuclear capacity even as restarts of idled plants continue.

NHK said the government aims to increase predictability for public services by setting concrete renewal targets.

The moves also come at a time when electricity demand is expected to rise sharply, driven by artificial intelligence-oriented data centres.

According to its current energy plan, Japan aims to increase the share of nuclear energy in its electricity mix to around 20 percent by fiscal 2040, from 9.4 percent in fiscal 2024.

The draft policy is planned to be discussed on Friday before being formally adopted at a ministerial meeting later this year, NHK said.