Posted on 07/05/2022 8:51:19 AM PDT by BeauBo
Japan is facing an energy crisis that can severely hurt the world's third-largest economy as it is forced to tackle a combination of a weak local currency, the fallout from the Ukraine war, and a heatwave.
Japan already had a significant energy import bill as it depends on foreign oil and gas for 90 percent of its needs. But as the yen fell to the lowest in 20 years, Japan's bill became even bigger, with the price rise in crude oil, which has been some 40 percent in dollar terms since the start of 2022, reaching a whopping 70 percent in yen terms...
Because of its extreme dependence on imported energy, Japan has had to continue importing Russian oil and gas despite its verbal commitment to sanctions against Moscow...
It could be because of its heavy energy import bill that Japan proposed to the G7 to cap Russian oil export prices at half the current rate.
(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...
Jane Fondle did her work well in The China Syndrome.
The Dumbs lapped it up, and transferred their "knowledge" to the baby Dumbs.
Generation 4 should be going full-bore, but the Watermelons [Green on the outside, Red on the inside, and overflowing with Xi-Putin cash] are too well-funded.
It’s ridiculous to think a cap on oil prices is feasible, Japan best get busy building more nuclear reactors.
It amazes me how Japan went from being completely crushed as a nation in WWII to a leading world economy in less than a generation.
How about some nice Thorium reactors? They make them in Japan.
Pons and Fleischmann was when I was briefly sucked into the household Mr. Fusion pipe dream.
Japan will divert more of its energy resources to its remaining industries. It will be the average Japanese who will suffer. Japanese have abandoned rural areas in large numbers for jobs in urban areas. I was there in 2019, we were in a small city, surrounded by very small villages. Old family homes were being abandoned. Even in my old neighborhood, homes were abandoned and in bad shape. They had signs that basically gave the home to anyone willing to live there full time.
It will be those living in urban areas in formally first world countries like Japan that will suffer the most with energy and food shortages. Peoples living in rural areas, after a period of adjustment will be okay.
My goodness, did they learn nothing from WWII?
“We should be full bore exploring Thorium Reactors, Pebble Bed reactors, modular and scalable reactors using 21st century technology.”
You need civilization for true scientific advancement.
The West has declared civilization “racist”—so back to the caves we go....
Fusion is still but 10 years away.
Culture matters. Look how Japan cleaned up after the earthquake and Tsunami, as opposed to how New Orleans still shows signs of damage from Katrina.
“Time to fire up the nuke power generator plants.”
Japan’s political leadership has come to the same conclusion.
Just as Germany and other countries in Europe (like Finland Sweden, and many others) have experienced some sea changes in their policies after Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine this year, Japan is now reversing course on their domestic nuclear power generation, for the first time since Fukushima (2011).
The Washington Examiner reports: “Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called on the government to restart reactors that have passed upgraded safety standards as a means of combating the shortage of fossil fuels caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Freeper Sushiman (in Japan) reported that there did not seem to be much public opposition. I think that most reasonable people can see the arguments in favor of more nuclear generation for Japan, understand that there is a serious global risk to oil and gas supplies from Russian aggression in the Ukraine, and are really personally feeling the pain from rising energy prices (like twice what we have seen in the USA).
Before Fukushima, Japan got 30% of its energy from nuclear - a big chunk, and a lot of buffer from blackouts.
That’s great news. New technology employed by folks who are good at it (Japan) should mean no repeat of Fukishima.
“They can get their power from the Fukushima nuclear reactors...”
Just last week, the Japanese Government announced that they are lifting restrictions from the evacuation order on the downtown of Okuma - the municipality that hosted the Fukushim DaiIchi nuclear reactor. (https://energycentral.com/news/japan-oks-return-nuclear-plant-host-town-1st-time-11-yrs ).
As of the first of this month (July 2022), residents can finally return to their homes to stay.
Shows how much I've been out of the loop, didn't know anything about this. It's good news; I am sure the earthquake-protection technology can be found, if it isn't already available.
Not really, but I see your intent. It's because the samurais were repressed and done away with, that Japan was able to rise as an industrial power and challenge the Western powers. The warrior spirit lived on, despite swords being taken from the samurai. Their backs were against the wall when the USA blocked their access to resources as they sought to bring Asia under Asian control (in their minds). War was inevitable then. As for now, it's China that wants to bring Asia under Asian control, and war may again be inevitable.
LOL, like the end of the world due to Climate Change...
I shouldn’t laugh at the patent absurdity of it.
Well they had this thing happen to them in 1945 two times, that really left a bad taste in their mouth about anything nuclear. I’m not sure, I think it was on a couple of southern cities. I think involving B-29s.
There’s also the fact they built the Fukushima plant on a active fault line and near the ocean!
Don’t the Land of the Rising Sun believe in solar panels for their energy supply?
Waging war against the US was the smartest thing Japan did in the 20th century — look how they improved their standard of living.
That they got nuked in the process is merely collateral damage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.