TOKYO: The Japanese government and electric power industry are relieved to see the COP26 climate pact urge countries to “phase down” instead of “phase out” the use of coal-fired thermal power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Japan plans to continue utilizing coal-fired thermal power while trying to reduce its dependence on coal and suspend or abolish low-efficiency power plants, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference Monday.

The country relies heavily on coal-fired thermal power, which accounts for about 30 percent of its electricity source. The climate pact, adopted in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday after two weeks of UN talks, is “consistent with Japanese policy,” Matsuno said.

Chugoku Electric Power Co. plans to continue using coal to some extent as a supplement to renewable energy sources to ensure stable power supply.

“Coal-fired thermal power plays a key role for us in trying to expand the use of renewable energy to the maximum,” the company said.

A power company executive is less optimistic about the industry’s prospects, pointing to the general trend toward scrapping coal-fired power.

“The electricity industry remains in a tough situation though the requirements for phasing out (coal power) were avoided,” the executive said.

Takeo Kikkawa, vice president of the International University of Japan and an expert on energy industry policy, said that Japan kept a low profile at the COP26 climate conference.

“Japan probably thought it can hide behind India and other countries that called for the need for coal-fired thermal power,” Kikkawa said.

He said Japan needs to boost its presence by highlighting the future potential of its technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants through mixed combustion of coal and low-carbon ammonia.

JIJI Press