Japan plans to maximize nuclear power by 2040

Japan is shifting its energy strategy to increase reliance on nuclear power more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster, as it grapples with emissions targets and energy security. The upcoming strategic energy plan, set for cabinet approval, will abandon previous commitments to reduce nuclear dependence, instead aiming for nuclear to provide 20% of the energy mix by 2040. Currently, only 14 of Japan's 54 reactors are operational, supplying less than 9% of the nation's power in 2023. The plan also emphasizes a significant share of renewable energy, projected at 40% to 50%, while reducing coal use significantly. This renewed focus on nuclear is partly driven by rising global energy demands and the ramifications of the Ukraine invasion, which have underscored Japan's vulnerability in energy imports. Critics, however, warn about the safety and viability of aging reactors and the high costs associated with nuclear energy.