Japan Returns to Nuclear // Russia Launches New Siberian Gas Field // Sunak Scraps Truss's Energy Supply Taskforce

Japan Returns to Nuclear

Japan has amended a rule on nuclear reactor lifetimes.

"Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved a draft of a new rule that would allow the country's nuclear power reactors to be operated for more than the current limit of 60 years," reports World Nuclear News. "The amendment will require parliamentary approval."

The resource-poor island country has been in a dash to restart its nuclear reactors in order to survive the energy crisis. Japan had switched off many of its reactors and cut their lifespans to 40 years in response to the meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi during which no one was harmed by radiation. Germany followed suit. Japan has reversed course before the Germans--they do not have massive coal reserves and a legacy coal power industry to fall back on. Without nuclear, they are at the mercy of the natural gas market for electricity.

The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum noted that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy's new rule looks like this: "Similar to the current system, the operating period will be 40 years, and the extension period will be 20 years. It excludes the period of suspension associated with the review of compliance with regulatory standards, and allows additional extensions."

The Japanese government's seriousness about the rededication to nuclear can be seen elsewhere. Recently, an Osaka court rejected an anti-nuclear group's injunction to halt the restart of the Mihama nuclear power plant's No. 3 reactor.

Sunak Scraps Truss's Energy Supply Taskforce

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped his predecessor's task force for securing long-term energy supplies.

"The Energy Supply Taskforce, announced by Liz Truss towards the beginning of her short tenure in No 10 as part of a package of measures to reform the 'broken' market, has been officially wound down after just three months," reports Bloomberg. "Spearheaded by Madelaine McTernan, who led the UK's vaccine taskforce, the team aimed to agree long-term contracts with both domestic and international suppliers to cut energy charges and boost the security of Britain's stock."

But a government source has confided in Bloomberg that Sunak has scuttled the taskforce for good reason. "Winding down the taskforce is the right decision - while it was sensible in September for the previous administration to explore these contracts, locking in long term contracts while gas prices are this high just doesn't make sense," the source said.

Truss's administration had also given the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy power to negotiate with renewable producers to help cut their prices. It remains to be seen if Sunak will wind down their efforts as well. Sunak also reversed Truss's decision to permit fracking in the UK, which eliminated a medium-term solution for Britain's energy woes.

Russia Launches New Siberian Gas Field

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the launch of a major new gas field in Siberia yesterday.

"The Kovykta gas field will feed into the Power of Siberia pipeline carrying Russian gas to China. With recoverable reserves of 1.8 trillion cubic metres, it is the largest in eastern Russia," reports Reuters. "The launch is part of Russia's strategy to shift gas exports to the east as the European Union cuts reliance on Russian energy in response to the war in Ukraine."

Putin praised the project as a "significant event" for Russia's energy sector and its economy. Via video link, he joined workers on the site who were kitted out in snow gear. He gave the command to "Start work!" to inaugurate the project.

"Russia started selling natural gas to China at the end of 2019 via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which supplied about 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in 2021 and is due to reach its full capacity of 38 bcm in 2025. Russia is now Beijing's No. 3 gas supplier," reports Reuters.

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Conversation Starters

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