Japan should use nuclear plants to offset Iran crisis, opposition party head says | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis (original) (raw)

Japan should operate all of its nuclear power plants available to offset the impact of the Iran war ‌on electricity bills, Yuichiro ⁠Tamaki, the leader ⁠of a Japanese opposition party, said on Monday.

Japan relies ⁠on the Middle East for around 95% of its oil supplies and 11% of ‌its liquefied natural ⁠gas imports with around 70% ​and 6% respectively coming via the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed due to the war.

“Unless we make full use of nuclear power as a carbon-free power source with less dependence on overseas sources, electricity bills will inevitably rise,” Tamaki, who heads ⁠the Democratic Party ​for ​the People, said ‌in a statement on X.

Oil prices surged ‌about 20% on Monday, hitting their highest since July ​2022, as the expanding U.S.-Israeli war with Iran fueled fears of tighter ⁠supply.

Japan shut down all of its 54 nuclear power reactors - which provided ⁠roughly 30% of the country’s electricity - in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima No.1 plant nuclear meltdowns. Thirty-three remain operable but only 15 have been restarted.

“A policy shift is needed to protect the lives of the people,” said Tamaki, who has consistently supported restarting and ⁠expanding nuclear ​power in Japan.

New Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also staunchly pro-nuclear and Japan’s ‌public is also gradually becoming ​more supportive ​of nuclear power.