Japan not eyeing new reactors for carbon-free goals

TOKYO: Japan is not considering building new nuclear power plants to help it become carbon-free by 2050, the government’s top spokesman said on Wednesday.
For the world’s fifth-biggest emitter, reining in emissions from utilities that contribute about 4/5ths of carbon dioxide output was key to achieving the deadline set by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
“At this stage we are not considering the construction of additional nuclear power plants,” chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato told a regular news briefing.
The government was reviewing energy policy, looking to use renewable energy sources and existing nuclear plants that could be operated safely, he added.
Suga unveiled the 2050 goal after Japan said it aimed to be carbon-free sometime in the second half of the century, which brings it in line with the European Union.
“We will look at all possibilities, including renewables and nuclear,” Suga said later, replying to a question in parliament, but did not say if that included building new reactors or not.
Meanwhile, global emissions from fuel consumption likely peaked last year, as power demand fell this year due to coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions, research by Bloomberg Energy Finance (BNE) said on Tuesday.
In its New Energy Outlook report, BNEF said emissions from the energy sector have fallen by around 10 per cent this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even if they rise again with economic recovery, they would never reach 2019 levels again.

– Reuters