(ANSA) - BEIJING, AUGUST 24 - 11 years after the Fukushima crisis, Japan is evaluating the possibility of building new generation nuclear reactors, with the country in the offing with the increase in imported energy costs due to the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, attending the Energy Transition Council, said the government will discuss reactivating more nuclear power plants and extending the life of the reactors in service if safety can be guaranteed.
"We will try - added the premier according to the medianpponians - to build next generation nuclear reactors equipped with new safety mechanisms".
"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has profoundly transformed the world energy scenario," prompting Japan to take into account the potential effects of future crises, Kishida added.
"With regard to nuclear power plants, in addition to the safety of the operations of the 10 reactors already reactivated (of which only 6 are operational), the government will lead the efforts to carry out the restart" of other units whose safety has been ascertained and approved by the atomic national agency.
Kishida called for consideration of the "construction of next-generation nuclear reactors equipped with new safety mechanisms" and "the maximum possible use of existing power plants", as well as accelerating "discussions on possible measures based on the views of political forces and experts. in order to reach concrete conclusions by the end of the year ".
Kishida presented the new energy policy of the country, which aims to guarantee electricity in the medium and long term with a restart plan for up to 17 nuclear power stations starting from the summer of 2023. The main objective from 2030 will be to consider the construction of next-generation plants which, once completed, would be the first ever since 2011.
Another priority is the operational extension of the current reactors: the current law provides for an operational life of 40 to 60 years before decommissioning.
(HANDLE).