Nuclear reactor restarts seen as best option for Japan
08 March 2022 - 09:35
by Tim Kelly and Elaine Lies
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The Fukushima nuclear reactor after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Picture: REUTERS
Tokyo — Speeding up the restart of nuclear reactors halted in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident may be Japan’s “best option” for riding out any oil and gas shortages that result from sanctions imposed on Russia, a ruling party MP says.
Japan has repeatedly said that, in the event of a possible US-led embargo on Russian oil, it would work with G7 nations to respond appropriately. There has so far been no impact on its energy supply from the situation.
Such an embargo would have a large impact on Russia, but it would hit Japan hard as well, said Itsunori Onodera, a former defence minister in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
“It’s a question of whether we could endure this,” he said.
Other natural gas and oil producers would have to step up to cover what Russia now supplies to make this a viable option, he said. Japan relies on Russia for 5% of its oil and about 8% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russia is Japan’s fifth-biggest supplier of crude oil and LNG.
An even better option would be hastening the restart of Japanese nuclear reactors, he said.
Many Japanese reactors are still going through a relicensing process under safety standards imposed after an earthquake and tsunami touched off meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
“If we could have the nuclear reactors working, if we could speed that up, if you could obtain the understanding of the people after having verified safety, speeding up inspections and then speeding up the restarts is definitely a choice,” he said.
Asked if this would be the best option in the event it faced fossil fuel shortages, he said “yes.”
Japan has six operating nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 6,19MW as opposed to 54MW before Fukushima.
Fears of an energy war between Russia and the West grew on Tuesday after the US pushed its allies to ban Russian oil imports as punishment for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia warned it could stop the flow of gas through pipelines from Russia to Germany in response to Berlin’s decision last month to halt the opening of the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Russia supplies 40% of Europe’s gas.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Nuclear reactor restarts seen as best option for Japan
Tokyo — Speeding up the restart of nuclear reactors halted in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident may be Japan’s “best option” for riding out any oil and gas shortages that result from sanctions imposed on Russia, a ruling party MP says.
Japan has repeatedly said that, in the event of a possible US-led embargo on Russian oil, it would work with G7 nations to respond appropriately. There has so far been no impact on its energy supply from the situation.
Such an embargo would have a large impact on Russia, but it would hit Japan hard as well, said Itsunori Onodera, a former defence minister in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
“It’s a question of whether we could endure this,” he said.
Other natural gas and oil producers would have to step up to cover what Russia now supplies to make this a viable option, he said. Japan relies on Russia for 5% of its oil and about 8% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russia is Japan’s fifth-biggest supplier of crude oil and LNG.
An even better option would be hastening the restart of Japanese nuclear reactors, he said.
Many Japanese reactors are still going through a relicensing process under safety standards imposed after an earthquake and tsunami touched off meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
“If we could have the nuclear reactors working, if we could speed that up, if you could obtain the understanding of the people after having verified safety, speeding up inspections and then speeding up the restarts is definitely a choice,” he said.
Asked if this would be the best option in the event it faced fossil fuel shortages, he said “yes.”
Japan has six operating nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 6,19MW as opposed to 54MW before Fukushima.
Fears of an energy war between Russia and the West grew on Tuesday after the US pushed its allies to ban Russian oil imports as punishment for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia warned it could stop the flow of gas through pipelines from Russia to Germany in response to Berlin’s decision last month to halt the opening of the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Russia supplies 40% of Europe’s gas.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
Reuters
Russia warns of halting gas flow to Germany
Blinken reassures Baltic allies of US resolve on Ukraine
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