Japan’s government is planning to temporarily remove restrictions on coal-fired power plants to address an energy shortage triggered by the Middle East conflict, a government official confirmed on Friday.
Media reports, including from Jiji Press, had indicated that the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry was preparing to unveil this proposal based on insider information.
An official from the ministry, Takahide Soeda, affirmed the accuracy of the reports and mentioned that the proposal would be discussed at a meeting with experts later in the day.
Previously, power providers were mandated to limit the operational capacity of coal-fired plants emitting significant carbon dioxide to 50 percent or lower. However, the government is now contemplating permitting the full operation of older and less efficient coal-fired facilities for a year starting from the upcoming fiscal year in April.
This move aligns with a regional trend where several Asian countries, responding to the disruptions caused by the recent Middle East conflict, are turning to coal as a primary energy source to sustain their economies.
South Korea, for instance, is looking to remove restrictions on coal-based power generation while also ramping up nuclear power output. Similarly, the Philippines is aiming to increase the production of coal-fired electricity to stabilize energy costs amidst disruptions in gas supplies due to the conflict.
In Japan, thermal power plants, heavily reliant on coal as a primary fuel source, account for approximately 70 percent of the country’s electricity production. Notably, Japan sources a significant portion of its coal imports from Australia and Indonesia, in contrast to its dependence on Middle Eastern oil supplies.
Moreover, Japan recently announced the release of a portion of its strategic oil reserves in response to challenges in oil imports, the majority of which typically originate from the Middle East.
