One key energy policy issue for the Oct. 27 Lower House election is the future of nuclear power generation in this nation.

Should the government promote the "maximum utilization" of nuclear power and even allow the construction of new reactors, or should it aim for a society not reliant on nuclear power?

The previous administration of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida implemented a significant energy policy shift without explicitly presenting it in the national elections, and it is essential to question the propriety of this change in this general election.

The energy policy campaign promises of parties show that they agree on promoting renewable energy, but their future visions for nuclear power differ widely.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party advocates for the maximum utilization of atomic energy and has proposed the "development and construction of next-generation innovative reactors."

However, Komeito, despite being the LDP’s junior partner in the ruling coalition, maintains a policy aimed at building a society that is not dependent on nuclear power.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, has set a goal of raising the share of renewable energy in Japan’s overall power supply to 100 percent by 2050 and has explicitly stated that it will not allow new nuclear reactors to be built.

The Japanese Communist Party also advocates for the realization of zero nuclear power.

On the other hand, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People are promoting policies to utilize and construct "next-generation" nuclear reactors.

For Japanese society, which experienced the catastrophic nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2011, policy decisions regarding nuclear power are critical for its future.

All parties need to explain meticulously the reasoning and detailed plans for their nuclear policy proposals. The LDP, in particular, bears a significant responsibility.

In the last Lower House election in 2021, the LDP pledged to lower the nation’s dependency on nuclear energy "as much as possible."

In the 2022 Upper House election, however, the ruling party advocated for the "maximum utilization of nuclear power where safety is confirmed" without explaining its implications for the policy of reducing Japan’s nuclear dependency or mentioning constructing new reactors.

However, after the Upper House election, citing the strain on the power supply, the LDP-led government proposed extending the operational life of aging nuclear plants beyond 60 years and replacing them with new reactors after just four months of consideration.

Even the atomic energy basic law was amended to position the utilization of nuclear power as a "national duty.”

Since these moves amount to a significant policy shift, it is the duty of the ruling camp to thoroughly explain the switch during the election period and seek public trust.

If the ruling coalition fails to address the tough challenges confronting nuclear power as it explains its policy shift, it can be accused of acting in an irresponsible manner.

Indeed, considering the policy imperatives of securing a stable supply of electricity and promoting decarbonization, it is difficult to immediately reduce nuclear power utilization to zero.

However, the reality is that even the government's plans to restart offline reactors have not progressed as expected due to inadequate safety measures and evacuation plans for emergency situations.

There is also the risk of compound crises of natural disasters and severe nuclear accidents occurring simultaneously or nuclear facilities becoming a military target. The issue of dealing with nuclear waste remains unresolved.

Merely advocating for maximum utilization does not make these formidable and complicated challenges disappear.

Meanwhile, the cost of renewable power generation has dramatically decreased, fueling the global expansion of clean energy. Reducing dependency on nuclear power by focusing on renewable energy is becoming a more realistic policy option.

Thirteen years ago, during the devastating nuclear accident, everyone seriously considered the future of electricity. Now, at this crossroads, it is necessary to remember that time and look toward the future.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 22