22 Mar (NucNet): Support for restarting nuclear power plants in Japan has increased to 27 % in 2018, up about eight points compared to the previous year, according to a survey of 1,200 people carried out by the Japan Atomic Energy Relations Organisation (Jaero) at the end of 2018.
The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (Jaif) said Jaero has been conducting the same public opinion survey annually since 2006.
The survey has shown the percentage of those opposed to restarting nuclear plants fell by six points, from 25% in 2017 to 19%.in 2018.
On the other hand, Jaif said that solar, wind and hydro were listed by respondents as the top three preferred energy sources for Japan, a result which had been the same even before the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in March 2011.
According to Jaif, the preference for nuclear power rose to 17% in 2018 from 12% the previous year.
All of Japan’s 48 reactors were taken offline as a result of the Fukushima-Daiichi accident for safety assessments and upgrading measures. Nine units have since renewed commercial operation.
