Reference Material: Nuclear Power Plants in Japan and East Asia
- Japan
This map shows the status and location of Japan’s nuclear reactor fleet. Of the 33 ‘operable reactors’ only 10 are actually operating. Seven of the 33 have passed the post-Fukushima safety regulations but have not commenced operation for various reasons including a court ruling declaring operation unsafe in the case of Tokai Daini, the local government refusing to give permission, as well as a security scandal resulting in a fuel-loading ban in the case of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa No. 6 & 7 and incomplete additional safety measures in the case of Takahama, Shimane and Onagawa. The remaining ‘operable’ reactors either have not applied for the necessary safety inspections or are in the process of obtaining approval.
The current government aims to restart as many idled reactors as possible, including aged reactors by extending the operating limit so that reactors can operate for over 40 years. It remains to be seen, however, how far this plan is able to progress given the present reality.
- East Asia
Taiwan is still moving toward its policy of being nuclear-free by 2025 but South Korea reversed the previous government’s policy of nuclear phase-out and has increased nuclear power targets. 25 operating reactors produced 27% of electricity in 2020. The target for 2030 is 30%.
China continues to show by far the fastest nuclear expansion, yet in 2020, the nuclear share in electricity production was only 5%. Wind and solar, which are also expanding rapidly, accounted for about 8%.
(Data from World Nuclear Association
Korea: world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-o-s/south-korea.aspx
China: world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/china-nuclear-power.aspx)
