Japan eyes smaller nuclear role but no exit strategy
Source: Reuters
Japan eyes smaller nuclear role but no exit strategy
Fri May 25, 2012 5:09am EDT
By Linda Sieg
TOKYO, May 25 (Reuters) - Japan is leaning toward a policy of halving nuclear power's share of electricity supply from pre-Fukushima levels to about 15 percent by 2030, but will likely stop short of pledging the long-term exit strategy that many voters favour, experts said.
That would be a victory of sorts for a nuclear industry that has been under fire since a huge earthquake and tsunami devasted the Fukushima atomic plant in March 2011, triggering meltdowns in the world's worst radiation accident in a quarter century.
With discussions on shaping future energy policy extending over months, the government has already pledged to reduce the role of nuclear power and in principle to decommission reactors after they have been running for 40 years. That formula would yield a share of around 15 percent by 2030 if strictly followed.
"It is government policy to set the limit on nuclear reactors' operation at 40 years," Goshi Hosono, the minister in charge of the nuclear crisis, told reporters on Friday.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/25/japan-nuclear-policy-idUSL4E8GO48120120525
= new reply since forum marked as read
