Use and the future of coal in Japan. Coal-fired power stations: domestic policy in Japan. Coal-fired power stations: Japan's export policy

Inexpensive energy, easy to import but particularly polluting, coal retains an important place in Japanese energy policy; the objective is that it still represents 25 pc of the energy mix in 2030 (compared to 28 pc in 2015), i.e. the second energy source in the country after oil, far ahead of renewables (14 pc) and nuclear (11 pc) pc). Although low, the achievement of the objective of reducing the share of coal is not guaranteed, because of the difficult restart of nuclear power and the laborious development of renewable energies. Numerous projects for new coal-fired power stations are being carried out by energy companies and industrialists, whether on Japanese territory or within emerging Asian countries. The Japanese government and industry minimize the environmental stakes, promoting the concept of 'clean coal'; this support for coal could end up coming up against the realities of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which is notably reflected in the development of Japan's long-term low-carbon strategy. The question of the use of coal is finally debated within the Japanese government. The capacity to generate electricity from coal (imported mainly from Australia) has increased in Japan since the 1960's and the country continues to invest in new power plants. Unlike the other G7 countries, Japan is not embarking on an exit path and is promoting its so-called 'clean coal' energy technologies. Domestic dependence on this energy is increasingly criticized by the international community and NGOs. Within the government, the oppositions between the ministry of the environment and that of industry and energy are more and more visible. Part of the private sector and the population are starting to show their distrust of this energy. Japan, the world's second largest financier of coal-fired power plants, is maintaining active support for new projects in developing countries, particularly in Asia. This policy, carried by the government and its development agencies as well as by banks, trading houses and private insurers, faces growing challenges both in Japan and internationally. Japanese private financiers are starting to change their positions in order to reduce their exposure to risks related to this energy and the government has initiated in 2020 a review of its policy for the export of coal-fired power plants