天然气：日本核反应堆重启或将替代天然气发电

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant information provided 2. Core View of the Report - Japan's nuclear reactor restart, especially the restart of Kashiwazaki - Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 6, may replace natural gas power generation. As nuclear and renewable energy power generation increase, Japan's natural gas power generation and LNG imports continue to decline. In the long - term, Japan aims to increase the proportion of nuclear power to 20% by 2040, which will further reduce its dependence on imported natural gas and enhance domestic energy security [2][3][8] 3. Summary by Related Catalogs Japan's Nuclear Reactor Restart - In February 2026, Japan restarted Kashiwazaki - Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 6 (1356 MW), the first reactor of Tokyo Electric Power Company to resume operation after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Once fully operational, it is expected to replace about 1.3 million tons of LNG (62 billion cubic feet) for power generation annually. Currently, there are 15 nuclear power units in operation in Japan, with a total installed capacity of 33 GW. In 2024, nuclear power accounted for 9% of the country's total power generation. Tokyo Electric Power Company has postponed the restart of Kashiwazaki - Kariwa Unit 7 (1356 MW) to 2029 - 2030 [2][3] Japan's Natural Gas Import Situation - Since 2017, as nuclear reactors are gradually restarted and renewable energy power generation increases, natural gas power generation and LNG imports have been decreasing. In 2025, Japanese companies imported 9 billion cubic feet of LNG per day, nearly 20% less than in 2018. In 2025, Japan's LNG imports were second only to China. Australia was the largest supplier in 2025, accounting for 39%, while the US share dropped to 7% [2][6][8] Japan's Nuclear Power Development Plan - According to Japan's 2040 energy plan, the target proportion of nuclear power is 20%, nearly double that of 2025. To achieve this, about 30 units need to be in operation. Currently, there are 15 units in operation, 3 have received preliminary approval, 6 are under review, and 8 have not submitted restart applications [2][8]