Top Liberal Democratic Party officials have contradicted each other over whether new nuclear reactors are needed to meet the country’s 2050 carbon neutral goal.
Japan isn’t currently envisioning new nuclear plants, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said to reporters Wednesday, just a day after NHK reported the nation’s former energy and economy minister, Hiroshige Seko, said additional reactors must be considered.
While nuclear plants could help meet the new target, widespread public opposition because of safety concerns has stalled the return of the country’s atomic fleet, which was mostly shuttered following the 2011 Fukushima meltdown disaster.