The Japanese government is urging utilities to increase the output at their fossil fuel fired power plants to help address the widespread power shortages caused by the devastating earthquake on Friday 11 March.
It will also encourage companies to rely more on in-house generators and promote the use of gas instead of electricity by expanding available supplies.
The nation's electricity supply has plunged since the earthquake and tsunami crippled Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, resulting in other facilities also being shut down.
The government aims to draw up plans within a month to allow utilities enough time to prepare for the high-demand summer season. It may give utilities priority access to oil and coal. Other proposals include relaxing regulations regarding periodic inspections, enabling utilities to ramp up production sooner.
Tepco has already brought back onstream some fossil-fuel power plants, including a Chiba Prefecture facility shut down after the 'quake, adding a total of 2.35 GW to its overall output. It will begin supplying another 86 MW by shortening periodic inspection times at other facilities. In addition, the utility will resume partial operations at an old facility in Niigata Prefecture that had been closed prior to the earthquake.
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