Fukui Prefecture in Japan Aims to Promote Local Utilization of Nuclear Power

On the 27th, Fukui Prefecture in Japan held a "co-creation meeting" to exchange views on development measures for areas hosting nuclear power plants. The meeting confirmed a new policy aimed at promoting the local use of electricity generated by nuclear plants to drive related industrial development, including attracting large-scale data centers and other high-power-consuming businesses.

Fukui Prefecture has held "co-creation meetings" for the past five consecutive years, with participants including the Fukui Prefectural Government, local governments in areas within the prefecture hosting nuclear plants, Japan's central government, and representatives of electric power companies. The meeting focused on how to combine the stable power supply and carbon-dioxide-free operation of nuclear plants with regional industrial revitalization.

According to the direction confirmed at the meeting, Fukui Prefecture will study the establishment of mechanisms to promote the local consumption of nuclear-generated electricity. Specific measures include attracting businesses with high electricity demand, such as large-scale data centers, and identifying potential technical issues and countermeasures in the process of their establishment.

During the meeting, heads of municipalities hosting nuclear plants also noted that the severe decline in local population requires improving infrastructure beyond nuclear power, such as industry and medical facilities, to maintain basic regional operational capacity. At the same time, they called on the central government to provide sufficient financial resources for evacuation road construction and regional development measures.

After the meeting, Fukui Governor Ishida stated that some regional development projects have made certain progress in commercialization, and the prefecture will continue to request the central government and Kansai Electric Power Co. to further explain project progress and related initiatives.