Japan to boost coal-fired power as Mideast war causes energy turmoil

TOKYO — Japan's government plans to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants as it seeks to ease an energy crunch caused by the Middle East war, officials said on Friday. Officials presented the plan at a meeting of a panel of experts, who approved the proposal, the industry ministry said on its website. "Given the current situation in the Middle East affecting fuel prices, we believe that uncertainty regarding future LNG procurement is increasing," an industry ministry official said at the meeting, which was broadcast online. "We think it will be necessary, by increasing the operation of coal-fired power plants, to... ensure the reliability of stable supply," he said. Power suppliers have previously been required to keep the operating rate of coal-fired thermal power stations that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide at or below 50 percent. But the government now intends to allow the full operation of older, less efficient coal-fired plants, for a year from the new fiscal year starting April, according to the plan presented at the meeting. Japan relies on thermal power p

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