Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question concerning electricity supply and demand during the winter months. As the Energy and Environment Council is scheduled to meet next week, in this meeting is the Government intending to assess the current status of considerations concerning the targets for power-saving measures this winter and how long they will be implemented for?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: There have been some press reports that the situation is expected to be severe in the service areas of Kansai Electric Power Company and Kyushu Electric Power Company, which have a high ratio of nuclear-powered electricity supply, a situation which was also noted during the summer. Currently the status of supply and demand is being carefully studied and early next week a joint meeting of the Review Meeting on Power Supply and Demand and the Energy and Environment Council will be held, at which it is expected that an action plan to ensure stable energy supply and demand will be decided, including stable supply and demand measures for both this winter and summer next year.

(Abridged)