2020年数字一（one）月22日，日本福岛县大间镇，工人们在被海啸摧毁的东京电力公司(TEPCO)福岛第一核电站拆除旧的储罐，包括在阿尔卑斯山(多核素回收设备)处理的水。根据日本外务省的新闻稿，日本核管制局(国家注册局)于2022年7月22日批准了与安装阿尔卑斯山(先进液体处理系统)处理水排放设施有关的实施计划修正案，该设施由东京电力公司控股(TEPCO)于2021年12月申请Kimimasa Mayama，Pool/EPA-EFE

东京——日本首相周三呼吁推动改革

Such a move could prove controversial after the 2011 Fukushima disaster led to the suspension of many nuclear reactors over safety fears.

But like many countries, Japan -- which is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050 -- has faced a squeeze on its energy supplies since Russian forces entered Ukraine six months ago.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine has vastly transformed the world's energy landscape" and so "Japan needs to bear in mind potential crisis scenarios", Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at an energy policy meeting.

Japan should consider building next-generation nuclear reactors, he said, while the government will also discuss bringing more nuclear plants online and extending the service life of reactors if safety can be guaranteed.

Kishida called for "concrete conclusions by the end of the year" on the topic, which remains a sensitive one after a deadly tsunami in March 2011 caused a meltdown at the Fukushima plant, the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

• Fukushima operator ex-bosses ordered to pay $95 bn: media
• Japan, IAEA discuss plan to release Fukushima treated water into sea

Eleven years on, 10 of Japan's 33 nuclear reactors are back in action, although not all are operational year-round, and the country is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.

The national nuclear safety watchdog has approved in principle the restart of seven more reactors, but those moves often face opposition from local communities.

'POLITICALLY CHALLENGING'

"In addition to securing the operations of the 10 reactors that are already back online, the government will spearhead an effort to do all it takes to realize the restart" of the others whose safety has been approved, Kishida said.

The prime minister, who joined the meeting remotely after testing positive for COVID-19, also urged policymakers to consider "constructing next-generation nuclear reactors equipped with new safety mechanisms".

Before the Fukushima disaster, a third of Japan's power generation came from nuclear sources, but in 2020 the figure stood at less than 5 percent.

Tom O'Sullivan, a Tokyo-based energy consultant at Mathyos Advisory, said building next-generation reactors in Japan would be a "major step", because "all the current reactors are conventional ones".

Bringing more existing nuclear plants online will need to be approved by local governors, which could prove "politically challenging", O'Sullivan told AFP.

"But again, there's a different environment now after the Ukraine war," he said.

For the Japanese public, "I don't think it's just the electricity costs. It's the reliance on Russia, for natural gas, oil and coal... the Japanese public have really woken up to that."

The price of Japanese shares related to nuclear power surged in afternoon trade as local media reported the possible plans, with Tokyo Electric Power ending up 9.96 percent and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries jumping 6.85 percent.

Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine along with other G7 countries.

The government has also pledged to make efforts to reduce its energy dependency on Russia, which supplies around 8 percent of Japan's LNG needs.

• Japan to expel Russian diplomats
• The gas war between Russia and the West

© Agence France-Presse