Tokura Masakazu, Chairperson of Sumitomo Chemical and the Japan Business Federation [Keidanren], said in a regularly scheduled press conference on March 22 that “we should seriously think about the effective use of nuclear-powered energy,” in response to the power shortage in the area serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO).

Tokura pointed out that “the importance of energy security has been reaffirmed” in connection with Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that [meeting] the target of greenhouse gas reductions “will become difficult if nuclear power plants with guaranteed safety are not restarted promptly.”

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) issued a power supply warning due to the risk of a power shortage within the TEPCO and Tohoku Electric Power service areas. Tokura said, “We would like companies with extra capacity to consider supplying their own power (such as by private power generation).”