Press Conference by Minister Muto (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

10:07 to 10:14 a.m.
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Press Conference Room, METI Main Building

Opening Remarks

None

Question-and-Answer Session

Strategic Energy Plan

Q: I would like to ask you about two points concerning the draft version of the Strategic Energy Plan, which was published today. As the draft version was formulated after the forecast of electricity demand became unclear and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine occurred, I would like to ask you anew about the significance of and your expectations toward the Strategic Energy Plan as of today. This is my first question.
Second, regarding nuclear energy, which is an issue described in the Plan, some media report that the government may continue the course of making the maximum use of nuclear energy in the Plan, too, in line with the Basic Policy for the Realization of Green Transformation (GX).
Considering the courses that the government took in a series of the past plans since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the media consider that this may be a turning point for the nuclear energy issue. Could you tell me as much as possible about your stance on nuclear energy?

A: First, regarding the significance of the Strategic Energy Plan, the energy situation surrounding Japan has been changing significantly in various ways since the Cabinet Decision was made on the current Sixth Plan in October 2021, as you have just mentioned.
Specifically, in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the growing tensions in the Middle East, Japan urgently needs to address its energy security. In addition, the outlook of increased electricity demand in Japan as Digital Transformation (DX) and GX progress, the expansion of diverse and realistic approaches in various countries around the world while keeping ambitious decarbonization targets, and changes in various countries in their industrial policies for strengthening by making the energy structure transformation the driver of their economic growth. In particular, as data centers and semiconductors, which are industries that support Japan’s future economic growth and key industries, including iron and chemicals, need decarbonized power sources, securing the stable supply of these power sources will greatly determine the strength of our country.
We believe that the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan, which is under formulation, has significance in that Japan presents its unique measures to achieve a stable energy supply, economic growth, and decarbonization at the same time based on these changes. Today, the secretariat will present the revised draft version of the Plan, which was formulated based on this idea, to the Council. I expect the Council to engage in proactive discussions on this version.
Concerning the issue of Japan’s dependency on nuclear energy, securing decarbonized power sources will greatly determine the strength of our country, as I mentioned earlier. Moreover, in the GX Promotion Strategy, on which a Cabinet Decision was made in July 2023, Japan showed its policy for making the maximum use of decarbonized power sources, including renewable energy and nuclear energy. In the revised draft version of the next Strategic Energy Plan, which the secretariat will present to the Council today, we intend to show the future directions of decarbonized power sources, including nuclear energy, based on this situation. Accordingly, I would like to refrain from commenting on this matter here.