Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a numerical target to rebuild up to five nuclear power plants by the 2040s.

This policy shift marks the first specific target for reactor replacement since the Fukushima disaster. By establishing clear goals, the national government intends to secure energy sources compatible with decarbonization, and stimulate necessary investment and human-resource development within the nuclear sector.

According to reports from the METI Comprehensive Resources and Energy Investigation Committee meeting in Tokyo, the government aims to rebuild between two and five reactors [1, 2] by the 2040s. Further targets extend into the following decade, with a goal to rebuild 11 to 14 reactors by the 2050s [2].

These targets are designed to align with the national energy basic plan, which seeks a nuclear power share of about 20% in the energy mix by the 2040 fiscal year [0]. The timeline for these projects is extensive; construction for a single new nuclear plant can take up to 20 years [2].

METI said the targets are necessary to ensure a stable supply of carbon-free energy. The move represents a strategic pivot to maintain energy security while pursuing climate goals, despite the long-term nature of nuclear construction and the historical challenges associated with plant restarts in Japan.

“Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced a numerical target to rebuild up to five nuclear power plants by the 2040s.”

This policy signals a formal commitment to nuclear energy as a permanent pillar of Japan's energy strategy rather than a temporary bridge. By setting targets decades into the future, the government is attempting to provide the industrial certainty required for the private sector to invest in a workforce and supply chain that has diminished since 2011. The 20-year construction window means that decisions made today are critical for meeting the 2040 and 2050 decarbonization deadlines.