Japan's Industry Ministry has proposed replacing two to five aging nuclear reactors by the 2040s and 11 to 14 by the 2050s.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry presented the targets at a panel meeting. This marks the first numerical target for reactor replacements since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The plan aims to encourage investment and secure personnel in the nuclear sector. Japan expects electricity demand to rise with the spread of artificial intelligence. Under the basic energy plan revised in 2025, the country targets 20 percent of electricity from nuclear power in fiscal 2040. Restarting existing reactors alone would not suffice to meet this goal. Reactor lifespans are capped at 60 years. Some plants have already operated for around 50 years. Twenty-four reactors are now undergoing decommissioning at 11 nuclear power stations. Possible sites for replacements include the Mihama power station in Fukui Prefecture and the Sendai complex in Kagoshima Prefecture.