Because of shortages from boycotting Russian LNG, Japanese leadership stomps on the accelerator to re-open nuke plants closed since Fukushima:
Nuclear Engineering International headline: Japan’s Kishida wants nine nuclear units in operation by winter
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsjapans-kishida-wants-ni…
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told a news conference that he had asked Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Koichi Hagiuda to have up to nine nuclear power units in operation by winter. He also wants to secure capacity from 10 additional thermal power plants to ensure sufficient generating capacity, in face of potential energy shortages.
“We are aiming to put as many nuclear reactors as possible online,” said Kishida. “We will have up to nine reactors operating this winter to secure enough sources of energy to cover about 10% of Japan’s overall power consumption.” He added: “Once accomplished, we will have the highest supply capacity in the last three years,” Kishida said. “As per the government’s responsibility, we will make every effort to ensure stable power supply for this winter as well as in the future by considering various measures.”
Before the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, nuclear energy accounted for about 30% of Japan’s energy balance. Following the earthquake and tsunami which caused the accident, Japan closed all 54 of its nuclear power units and introduced more stringent safety requirements for their restart. Of the 33 currently considered to be operable, 10 have so far been restarted.