By Law Japan's government must prepare a national energy strategy plan. The currently valid plan provides for an increase of nuclear power from 30% to 50% and is vehemently opposed by public opinion following the Fukushima nuclear disaster and much loss of public trust in nuclear power in Japan - while at the same time many Japanese traditional industry leaders promote nuclear power as a necessity.

Decision on the new energy plan has been postponed, but is likely to be announced later this week. However, Japan's public Radio and TV NHK reports, that Prime-Minister Noda yesterday at a Press Conference hinted at the content of the new energy policy plan. Some sources say that the new energy plan has already been approved by the cabinet.

NHK reports the following about Japan's new energy policy:

• Develop as soon as possible (translated word by word from Japanese: "one day earlier than possible") a society which does not rely on nuclear power
• use all political means to enable zero nuclear power in the "2030s" (which might mean 2040 depending on the interpretation)
• promote renewable energy in order to enable zero nuclear power
• eliminate nuclear power according to three principles
• no nuclear power station older then 40 years
• restart only those nuclear power stations, for which safety has been approved by the Nuclear Safety Commission
• no new power stations
• operate nuclear power stations, for which the safety has been assured, as an important power source

Japan's current nuclear near-shut down: