Japan issues warning over possible power crunch on Monday
26/06/2022 11:21
YOKOHAMA, June 26 (Reuters) - The Japanese government warned
on Sunday that electric power supplies would be strained in the
Tokyo area on Monday, calling on people to save energy as
scorching summer heat batters the capital.
In Tokyo and eight nearby prefectures in eastern Japan,
excess generating capacity will drop as low as 3.7% for half an
hour on Monday afternoon until 5 p.m. (0800 GMT), according to
estimates released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry (METI). A buffer of 3% is considered the minimum
required for a stable power supply.
The ministry urged users to curb power consumption between 3
p.m. and 6 p.m. to avert a possible power crunch.
"Please save as much power as possible, such as by turning
off lights that are not in use," it said in a statement.
The ministry also urged care to avoid heat stroke with
appropriate use of air conditioning.
As of mid-afternoon on Sunday, 46 people in Tokyo had been
taken to hospital with suspected heat stroke, public broadcaster
NHK said.
Separately, a 94-year-old man in Kawagoe city, 20 kilometres
(12 miles) northwest of Tokyo, died of suspected heat stroke
after he was discovered unconscious in his non-air conditioned
room on Saturday, NHK said.
Isezaki city, 85 kilometres (53 miles) northwest of Tokyo,
logged Japan's highest temperature ever for June on Saturday,
breaking above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheit),
according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2YC03X
Japan's power supply has been tight with many of its nuclear
power plants still shut after the tsunami and Fukushima nuclear
disaster of 2011, while aging thermal power plants are being
closed in part to reach its goal to cut carbon dioxide
emissions. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2XU1PH
The country also faces a potential shortage of fossil fuels,
including liquefied natural gas, due to the conflict in Ukraine
and sanctions against Russia.
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
((daniel.leussink@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter:
@danielleussink;))