Japanese government opposes TEPCO bidding

TEPCO bidding plan for coal-fired thermal plants should be put on hold.

Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to accept bids in March to secure long-term electricity supplies from coal-fired thermal power sources, a move that will increase Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan is raising a rising tide of criticism since coal is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions. Japan’s Environment Ministry has asked the industry ministry to have TEPCO postpone its bidding. Despite this, TEPCO intends to go ahead with the bidding from mid-February as planned.

TEPCO said it plans to hold a tender to select companies that will build coal-fired thermal power plants that can produce 2.6 million kilowatts of power to ensure stable electricity supplies in the future.

It will close the tender in May and announce the results in July. It wants to start receiving power between 2019 and 2021.

The Ministry of the Environment is concerned about the effects on global warming as coal-fired thermal power produces more carbon dioxide than other forms of thermal power generation. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, plans to reject the request, according to sources.

The industry ministry believes there is an urgent need to increase thermal power generation as 48 of the 50 commercial nuclear reactors in Japan remain offline due to safety concerns.

The clashing views between government agencies come at a time when the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has yet to form its energy policy.