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Japan seeks continued power savings for Tokyo area

The Tokyo Tower is seen partially lit as part of energy-saving measures following a government electricity supply warning for the capital and surrounding areas, in Tokyo on March 22, 2022. (AFP)
The Tokyo Tower is seen partially lit as part of energy-saving measures following a government electricity supply warning for the capital and surrounding areas, in Tokyo on March 22, 2022. (AFP)
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23 Mar 2022 11:03:22 GMT9
23 Mar 2022 11:03:22 GMT9

TOKYO: The Japanese industry ministry Tuesday asked households and businesses in areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. to continue to conserve electricity Wednesday due to a lingering power crunch.

The ministry said it will keep its power shortage warning in place for the areas where power supply is likely to remain tight. For the service areas of Tohoku Electric Power Co., the ministry lifted its warning.

Earlier on Tuesday, industry minister Koichi Hagiuda warned of a potential large-scale power outage in those areas in the evening. But such power failure was averted thanks to power-saving efforts.

On Tuesday, the risk of power failure grew after temperatures fell sharply, causing a hike in demand for electricity for heating amid shutdowns of some thermal power plants blamed on a powerful earthquake that mainly struck the Tohoku northeastern Japan region last week.

The ministry issued the power shortage warning for the first time, for the TEPCO areas on Monday and the Tohoku Electric areas on Tuesday, while calling for power-saving efforts by households and businesses.

TEPCO received electricity from seven other suppliers, while Hokkaido Electric Power Co. supplied electricity to Tohoku Electric.

On Tuesday, power demand temporarily reached 107 pct of supply capacity in the TEPCO areas and 100 pct in the Tohoku Electric areas. There was a possibility that about two million to three million households in the TEPCO areas may be hit by power failure Tuesday evening if pumped-storage hydropower capacity is used up.

Thanks to power-saving efforts, 4.75 million kilowatts of electricity were saved in the TEPCO areas past 7 p.m. (10 a.m. GMT). But “optimism is not warranted because an increase in the pumped-storage hydropower capacity is not enough,” an official said.

Six thermal power plants in the TEPCO and Tohoku Electric areas have remained suspended since Wednesday’s earthquake.

JIJI Press

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