Japan on Wednesday passed a law allowing nuclear reactors to operate for more than 60 years as it tries to revive the industry to meet energy challenges and climate targets. A parliamentary spokesperson told AFP that the bill aims to “create an electricity supply system that will allow to create a society without carbon dioxide emissions”.

Under the new rules, the age limit technically remains 60, but exceptions are allowed for reactors that had to be shut down for “unforeseen” reasons.

This may include changes in safety instructions or interim measures. The new rules allow operators to exclude downtime when calculating total years of operation.

However, before operators can be exempted, Japan needs the approval of its nuclear safety watchdog, and the law also includes measures to strengthen safety controls on aging reactors.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement that the government wants to “ensure a stable electricity supply while promoting the use of carbon-neutral electricity sources.” The move came as the Japanese government sought to revive the nuclear sector, which was paralyzed by the 2011 Fukushima disaster triggered by a deadly tsunami.

Most of Japan’s nuclear reactors are idle today, but the global energy crisis has reignited debate on the issue, and polls show that public opinion on nuclear power has softened. Source