Japan has adopted a new energy policy promoting greater use of nuclear power as it seeks to ensure a stable power supply amid global fuel shortages and to reduce carbon emissions.

The new policy – a major reversal of Tokyo’s phaseout plan following the 2011 Fukushima crisis – was announced on Thursday (22 December), a day after Japan’s nuclear regulator approved new regulations that will allow commercial power reactors to operate longer than the previous limit of 60 years.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority already allows utilities wishing to operate a reactor beyond 40 years to apply for a one-time 20-year extension if they meet enhanced safety measures, particularly steps to guard against natural disasters.

But Wednesday’s decision means reactors approved for 60 years will continue to be monitored and evaluated with the possibility of having their operational life extended further.

The new energy policy adopted on Thursday says Japan must maximise the use of existing nuclear reactors by restarting as many of them as possible and prolonging the operating life of old reactors beyond their 60-year limit, and by developing next-generation reactors to replace them.