(Bloomberg) — Japan confirmed a program setting out its
ambitions for its long-term mix of power supply, anticipating
nuclear will feed as much as 22 percent of the nation’s needs by
2030.
Clean energy sources such as solar and hydro will generate
up to 24 percent of Japan’s electricity in 15 years, according
to the report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The document endorses measures set out in April. It’s the
result of months of deliberation by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
government, which is seeking to balance demands for lower
greenhouse gas emissions and concerns about the safety of
nuclear power with the need to keep affordable power flowing to
homes and businesses.
Nuclear generated slightly more than a quarter of Japan’s
electricity before the Fukushima disaster in March 2011. Japan
is now without nuclear while maintenance and safety checks are
conducted on the country’s existing fleet of reactors.
A draft of the paper was released on April 28. It was
formally approved on Thursday after a public consultation and a
meeting of experts.
As part of the mix, gas is expected to supply about 27
percent of Japan’s electricity generation by the target date.
Coal and oil will provide 26 percent and 3 percent,
respectively, according to the report.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Chisaki Watanabe in Tokyo at
cwatanabe5@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Reed Landberg at
landberg@bloomberg.net
John Deane