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Reactor closures could leave Japan short of power

Early in 2003 the government plans to appeal to the nation to curb its electricity consumption. The coldest part of the year lies ahead, and it is to be a decidedly non-nuclear winter. Tokyo Electric Power's reactors have all been shut down for inspection following the revelation that the company covered up accidents and fudged its way through previous inspections; they won't be back online until next April, and the government fears power shortages are on the cards.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which is setting an example by notching down the thermostat in its building to 19 degrees from 20 (they don't quantify what effect this will have), will place newspaper ads early in the new year that appeal to the public to save energy. This is the first time that the government has sought to limit electricity usage since the 1974 oil crisis; unlike then, however, it will not be going so far as to impose reductions. The Ministry's Agency of Natural Resources and Energy is of the view that taking a tough line is likely to hurt the economy. It certainly could do without being hurt any more just at the moment.

The considerable number of recent corporate and political scandals are ample evidence that Japan is getting serious about housecleaning and pest control. But it's sometimes hard to believe that the house is going to remain standing until the weevils have been cleared out and the beams shored up.

Reference for the government comments is an Asahi.com article in Japanese.