Japan to maintain 20% target for nuclear power plant ratio in 2040

The Japanese government plans to maintain the ratio of nuclear power generation in the electricity supply at 20% in 2040, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to determine the ratio of nuclear power plants in the power composition goal of the basic energy plan to be organized within this year.

This is about the same level as the 2030 nuclear power plant rate target of 20 to 22%.

Nikkei analyzed that it is the long-term use of nuclear power as an essential power source for decarbonization and stable power supply amid increasing demand for electricity due to the spread of artificial intelligence.

Nuclear power plants accounted for up to 30% of Japan's electricity supply before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Japanese government temporarily suspended all nuclear power plant operations in the country after the Great East Japan Earthquake caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, and has since strengthened safety measures to restart them, but the percentage of nuclear power plants remained at 5.5% as of 2022.