Japanese media outlets, including Jiji Press, reported earlier that the Ministry of Industry was about to announce the proposal, citing unnamed sources.
View the chart
Takahide Soeda, an official at the Ministry of Industry, said: "The media reports on this matter are correct and the plan will be presented at an expert committee meeting later today.".
The government had previously required electricity suppliers to keep the operating rate of coal-fired power plants, which emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, at 50% or less.
But the government now intends to allow older, less efficient coal-fired power plants to operate at full capacity for one year, starting with the new fiscal year beginning next April, according to the official.
Many Asian countries are turning to coal to maintain economic activity, while the Strait of Hormuz remains almost completely closed since the outbreak of war last month.
Japan is preparing to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants as part of its efforts to alleviate the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war, an official stated today.
Japanese media outlets, including “Jiji Press,” previously reported that the Ministry of Industry was about to announce the proposal, citing unnamed sources.
Plan Presentation
Takahi Sueda, an official at the Ministry of Industry, said: “The media reports on this matter are correct, and the plan will be presented at a meeting of a panel of experts later today.”
The government had previously asked electricity suppliers to keep the operating rate of coal-fired power plants, which emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, at 50% or lower.
However, the government now intends to allow older and less efficient coal-fired power plants to operate at their maximum capacity for one year starting from the new fiscal year beginning in April, according to the official.
Many Asian countries are turning to coal to sustain economic activity, while the Strait of Hormuz remains almost completely closed since the outbreak of war last month.
