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SEE ALSO: Six years on, Fukushima folk still struggle in nuclear
disaster aftermath
Japan became more heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports from the
Middle East, with oil and gas from the region having to be
transported through narrow shipping lanes such as the Strait of
Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. This exposed the country to
heightened geopolitical risks, centred on concerns over potential
supply disruptions.
Firstly, it has been suggested the projected energy mix for 2030 is
simply a throwback to the status-quo before the Fukushima
disaster, with the government again turning to nuclear power to
patch over Japans problem of energy scarcity.
Secondly, fossil fuels such as coal and gas are set to retain a
dominant share casting doubt on Japans emissions reduction
commitments made at the global climate change conferences in
Copenhagen and Paris.
Lastly, some have complained the plan settles for relatively slow
growth in the clean energy sector, bypassing the opportunity to
more actively promote renewables and drive a seismic shift in
Japans energy landscape.
More than two years have now passed since the reintroduction of
nuclear energy was first announced, yet so far only two of Japans
48 reactors have been brought back online. Nuclear restarts have
been progressing at a painfully slow rate as legal and political
obstacles refuse to recede, whilst opposition to nuclear power has
remained resilient amongst local officials and the general
population.
Given the current public mood and the early hurdles encountered,
the governments target for nuclear power to make up 22 percent
of Japans energy mix by 2030 appears increasingly ambitious.
Six years on, the Japanese people are sending a clear message to
the government: although a large-scale human catastrophe was
avoided in the aftermath of Fukushima, it should serve as a stark
warning next time, Japan may not be so fortunate.
Posted by Thavam