Japan targets 12-16 GW of new reactors by 2050

The Japanese government has proposed a significant expansion of its nuclear power capacity, setting draft targets to replace aging reactors over the next three decades to ensure stable electricity supplies. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry outlined the plan at a policy meeting on Friday, aiming to rebuild between two and five reactors by the 2040s and as many as 11 to 14 by the 2050s.

This initiative marks a continued shift toward greater reliance on atomic energy, driven by expectations of sharply rising electricity demand and a need to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Officials cited the growing power needs of data centers for artificial intelligence and the push for digital and green transformations as key factors. The ministry also pointed to heightened geopolitical risks affecting global energy security as a reason to bolster domestic power generation.

Under the proposal, replacing two to five reactors by the 2040s would secure approximately 2.2 to 5.5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity. The broader target for the 2050s aims for a total of 12.7 to 16 gigawatts from the new plants. The government stated that setting these concrete replacement targets is...