TOKYO, April 19 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The industry ministry said Monday that Japan should build more than 14 new atomic power plants by 2030 as part of its effort to fight global warming.
Japan currently has 54 nuclear power plants nationwide. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry also proposed that the country raise the operating rate of the facilities to the world's top level of some 90 percent in 20 years' time, while the rate has been declining to around 60 percent in recent years due partly to safety checks at some plants.
The proposals are in a set of recommendations submitted by the ministry to the Advisory Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, an advisory panel to the METI minister discussing long-term energy policies the government should take in the next 10 to 20 years.
A draft guideline, unveiled last month, fell short of mentioning those numerical goals for 2030.
As for the 2020 target, the ministry said Monday that Japan should construct nine new atomic power plants, up from eight proposed by the earlier draft, adding that the operating rate should be raised to around 85 percent by the year.
While Japan has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 in the fight against climate change, the ministry says the country should achieve the goal by taking measures including promoting the use of nuclear energy.
But the proposal for wider atomic power use has been facing opposition from some lawmakers and conservation groups expressing concerns over radioactive toxic waste that poses disposal problems.
The advisory panel will work out Japan's new basic energy plan in early June after soliciting public opinions and discussing with ministries and agencies concerned.
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