Growth in Japan's total energy consumption should be limited to an annual rate of 0.1 percent, with the amount generated by fossil fuels reduced from the current 83 percent to 75 percent by 2010, according to a new, long-term national energy plan announced Thursday.
The supply and demand plan was compiled by the Advisory Committee for Energy, a body that advises the minister for international trade and industry. The committee drew up the plan as part of the commitment Japan made in the Kyoto global warming conference to cut its carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent from the 1990 level by 2012.
According to the new plan, the nation's energy consumption in 2010 should reach a crude oil equivalent of 400 million kiloliters, which is a 1.8 percent rise from 1996, or 0.1 percent annually.
The estimate is based on the assumption that drastic energy conservation measures will be implemented. If no measures are taken, the nation's energy consumption will reach 456 million kiloliters, it says. Initial energy supply is estimated at 616 million kiloliters in 2010, compared to 597 million kiloliters in 1996.