The government's draft for Japan's energy mix in 2030, which was endorsed by a panel of experts at the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry last week, makes it clearer that the Abe administration is pursuing a return to the nation's energy landscape that existed before the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster and contradicts Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's repeated words that the government is seeking to reduce the nation's dependency on nuclear power as much as possible by maximizing introduction of renewable energy and greater energy efficiency.

According to the medium-term targets set in the draft, nuclear power will account for 20-22 percent of the nation's electricity supply as of 2030, while the share of renewable energy such as solar and wind power will rise to 22-24 percent.

True, the target for renewable sources was set just slightly higher than the share of nuclear energy, which is forecast to fall from the levels before the 2011 triple meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima No.1 plant. It is questionable, however, whether all possible measures were explored to increase the future share of renewable energy before such targets were set.