Japan Plans 14 New Nuclear Reactors by 2050 as Global Interest in Nuclear Energy Surges - News and Statistics

Jun 15, 2026

Japan has announced plans to rebuild more than a dozen nuclear reactors by 2050, according to a report from Yahoo Finance. The source notes that China is currently constructing seven new reactors this year, while in the United States, two companies are developing a hybrid nuclear-and-gas power plant. Germany has acknowledged that its decision to phase out nuclear power was a significant error.

The renewed global interest in nuclear energy is forming the foundation of a new strategy for energy security. Microsoft President Brad Smith recently stated that the company clearly needs more nuclear power and is optimistic about it, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The source indicates that nuclear power has regained favor across many sectors, particularly among major technology firms. Microsoft is among several tech giants investing in nuclear generation to power its artificial intelligence data centers, effectively recognizing that reliance on low-carbon wind and solar energy alone would not be sufficient. Nuclear remains the only reliable, dispatchable, low-carbon energy source and is significantly less susceptible to geopolitical price fluctuations compared to oil and gas.

Japan serves as a key example of this shift. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government shut down all its nuclear reactors and attempted to transition to other electricity sources. However, the Strait of Hormuz crisis and volatility in LNG prices prompted a reassessment of that policy, leading to growing pro-nuclear sentiment in Japanese political circles. A proposal from the country’s trade ministry earlier this month outlined the plan to rebuild between 11 and 14 nuclear reactors. If all 14 are constructed, they would add 16 gigawatts to Japan’s generation capacity. Currently, Japan generates between 60% and 70% of its electricity from imported hydrocarbons, including coal, oil, and natural gas, due to a lack of domestic resources. The drawbacks of this dependence have become evident amid the Middle Eastern crisis, highlighting the advantages of nuclear power.

China, meanwhile, is pursuing an all-of-the-above energy strategy, building solar, wind, coal, and nuclear capacity with equal enthusiasm. Beijing plans to commission seven new nuclear reactors this year, expanding its already substantial fleet, which is the largest in the world. Ground has been broken on two of the seven reactors scheduled for commissioning before the end of the year. According to Chinese media reports from April, citing official data, another 16 reactors have been approved for construction, and a total of 36 are under construction. The country already operates 60 nuclear reactors with an installed capacity of 125 million kilowatts, having overtaken the United States as the world’s largest nuclear nation after building 34 gigawatts over ten years.

1. INTRODUCTION

Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

REPORT DESCRIPTION
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Quick Overview of Market Performance

KEY FINDINGS
MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

3. MARKET OVERVIEW

Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT

5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
UNSATURATED MARKETS
TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

7. PRODUCTION

The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

8. IMPORTS

The Largest Import Supplying Countries

IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

9. EXPORTS

The Largest Destinations for Exports

EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

11. COUNTRY PROFILES

The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

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11.1

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