Tokyo reverses post-Fukushima policy, aiming to rebuild 2-5 reactors by the 2040s to stabilize electricity supply and reduce LNG dependence.
Japan’s government will replace up to 14 nuclear reactors by 2050, with 2-5 slated for reconstruction by the 2040s, the economy ministry announced. The move marks a policy shift after the 2011 Fukushima disaster led to a nationwide shutdown of nuclear plants and a push toward alternative energy sources.
The decision follows recent volatility in liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices and geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tokyo to reconsider nuclear power as a stable energy source. Japan previously relied on nuclear energy for nearly 30% of its electricity before the 2011 crisis.
No immediate market reaction was reported, but the plan could reduce long-term energy import costs and carbon emissions, analysts said.