By the end of this month, the government is expected to announce a national long-term energy plan for 2030 that will include a "best energy mix" scenario — the formula for the various ratios of oil, coal, LNG, nuclear power and renewable energy that will be powering Japan in 15 years' time.
Of the different energy sources, it's the role of the latter two that has provoked the most tension and argument.
Last month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry panel in charge of setting Japan's energy mix goals for the next 15 years predicted that by 2030, nuclear power would still be the cheapest source available, at ¥10.1 per kilowatt-hour. While the cost of using renewables is expected to drop somewhat from their levels in 2011, the government insists they will still be more expensive than nuclear power.
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