Scope of subsidy recipients for nuclear plants expanded in Japan

Japanese government has expanded the scope of subsidy recipients from those hosting nuclear power plants to local governments located within 30 kilometers of them in a bid to earn support for the restart of nuclear complexes. The change in the subsidy system from fiscal 2017 starting April was not announced by the industry ministry to the press, fueling speculation that it is meant to assuage the concerns of many municipalities surrounding the host local governments about the restart of nuclear power plants suspended in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis. With the change in the scheme, more than 150 local governments are entitled to the subsidy, for which 4.5 billion yen ($40 million) was allocated in the fiscal 2017 budget, the same amount as in fiscal 2016. For fiscal 2018, the ministry has requested a budget of 5 billion yen. The subsidy program started in fiscal 2016 to mainly promote renewable energy and support other measures to revitalize the economies of local municipalities hosting nuclear power plants when decisions are made to scrap reactors due to old age. . (Courtesy: Japan Today)