Japan today - nuclear

I have spoken to several of my most reliable friends in Japan to find out the current circumstances about nuclear issues in Japan.

I have commented previously on how much the Japanese distrust their government especially since the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown.

Slowly 52 of the 54 reactors in Japan were shut down over the past year. The remaining two will be shut down this week. Nuclear power comprises 10 to 20% of all Japanese power and more during the hot summers.

My question has been whether the Japanese citizenry will turn off nuclear power.

The answer is as follows. The federal government is set to approve the reopening of nearly all the nuclear power plants via the decisions of two agencies. Whether any plant reopens is finally determined by local governors and administrators.

My best friends' estimates range from zero plants ever being reopened to a maximum of 12 plants being reopened.

Japan is finished with nuclear power and plans to substitute the emerging abundance of natural gas from the US. Canada, and New Zealand in the form of LNG.  There may possibly be natural gas in or near Japan.