Japan's June heatwave sizzles into hottest day, crunch time for power supply (updated)
29/06/2022 07:22
(Adds 7-Eleven's power-saving measures in last paragraph)
By Yuka Obayashi and Elaine Lies
TOKYO, June 29 (Reuters) - Japan braced on Wednesday for its
hottest day yet of a record-breaking June heatwave as fears grew
about a shortage of electricity to keep air conditioners
whirring and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for a ramp-up
of nuclear power use.
As some manufacturers announced plans to scale back
production to save electricity, temperatures of around 40 C were
predicted in areas surrounding Tokyo on the fifth day of a
heatwave that has seen the Japanese capital sizzle under its
worst June heat since records began in 1875.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast Tokyo temperatures
won't drop back to 30 C until July 5.
"The electricity demand and supply situation is expected to
be the toughest in the last three days (of this week)," an
industry ministry official told reporters. Power demand in Tokyo
and its vicinity early on Wednesday afternoon could match peak
summer levels of the last few years, the official said.
The planned electricity supply has already incorporated
everything that can be done as of Wednesday as additional
measures, according to national grid monitor OCCTO.
Illustrating the tightness of the squeeze on resources, an
OCCTO mid-morning estimate showed the reserve ratio of power
generation capacity for the Tokyo area could fall as low as 2.6%
between 4.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday - below the
minimum threshold of 3% deemed necessary to ensure stable
supply.
Prime Minister Kishida said he would do his utmost to secure
enough power supply in Japan, telling a news conference
following a Group of Seven (G7) summit he would make the
greatest possible use of nuclear power as long as safety is
assured.
Most of Japan's nuclear plants have been halted since the
March 11, 2011 tsunami that set off the Fukushima nuclear
accident.
Meanwhile, power companies are rushing to restart thermal
power plants that have been shut down and calls are rising for
additional use of alternate energy sources, including restarting
reactors.
As officials again called on households to save electricity
as best they can - without stinting on air conditioning where it
would endanger the health of the vulnerable - some businesses
also pledged to cut back on their usual operations to conserve
power.
In one example, auto parts maker Yorozu Corp 7294.T said
it would close all its manufacturing plants for at least two
days a month from July through September.
Seven & i Holdings 3382.T is asking 7-Eleven stores in and
around Tokyo to take further power-saving measures such as
dimming signboards and turning off ventilation fans when
deep-frying equipment is not in use during the 3-8 p.m. crunch
time.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
GRAPHIC-Japan recorded & forecast temperatures https://tmsnrt.rs/3QXYsW7
GRAPHIC-Japan & Tokyo weekly power prices surge during heatwave
https://tmsnrt.rs/3bos9iz
GRAPHC-Japan looks to boost nuclear power generation as heatwave
boosts air conditioner demand https://tmsnrt.rs/3I7mnyk
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(Reporting by Elaine Lies, Yuka Obayashi and Sakura Murakami;
Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2748; Reuters
Messaging: elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com))