Are the energy options limited

The author notes that even by every effort of developing nuclear energy, the dependence of the supply of energy on oil and LNG combined together is estimated to exceed 50% in the year 2000. It is considered that the domestic production of coal will be limited under 20 million tons a year according to the natural and economic conditions of coal mines. Accordingly almost 90% of coal must be imported. Those figures show that in the year 2000, Japan will still have to depend 70% of her energy supply on importation. Through the bitter experience in the 70's and by considering the outlook of the energy supply in the future, the Japanese government continues to make every effort for decreasing the dependence of the energy supply on petroleum. When the complicated nature of the problem is taken into account, the future prospect should be flexible with due considerations and efforts for international co-operation, as well as for better combination of various kinds of energy within the country to meet needs or conditions of local areas. There may be some limited options for energy supply, but they may change in the future and will vary in different countries