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Japan just revised its coal export policy
Local press said that Japan would declare (in principle) an end to funding coal-fired power plants abroad
They didn't say that. In fact, the updated policy isn't much different than the old policy. Let me explain what they did say
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Local press said that Japan would declare (in principle) an end to funding coal-fired power plants abroad
They didn't say that. In fact, the updated policy isn't much different than the old policy. Let me explain what they did say
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First, lets look at Japan's revised infrastructure export plan. One mention of coal in the middle of the 73 page document:
> Japan will follow OECD guidelines and only support coal plants that use USC or above technology
(Japan and Japanese banks already adhered to this)
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> Japan will follow OECD guidelines and only support coal plants that use USC or above technology
(Japan and Japanese banks already adhered to this)
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METI released a document elaborating on the new policy:
> Japan will only provide support for coal plants that use USC tech with an efficiency of 43% or above, lGCC tech, or plants that use tech to drastically cut emissions
(Japan only export plants that are this efficient)
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> Japan will only provide support for coal plants that use USC tech with an efficiency of 43% or above, lGCC tech, or plants that use tech to drastically cut emissions
(Japan only export plants that are this efficient)
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METI also said that they would make it a requirement for countries to have plans to decarbonize
(But they also added an “in principle” after that point, which gives them a bit of wiggle room for exemptions)
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(But they also added an “in principle” after that point, which gives them a bit of wiggle room for exemptions)
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Japan will only supply coal plants to countries that have no other choice than to build these plants
(But that’s what the old policy essentially said)
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(But that’s what the old policy essentially said)
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Those are the main points. Yes, they tightened rules and added some language on renewables, but not much has changed:
- Japan can keep funding coal projects abroad
- Japanese companies can keep exporting their advanced coal tech
Here is Greenpeace’s reaction:
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- Japan can keep funding coal projects abroad
- Japanese companies can keep exporting their advanced coal tech
Here is Greenpeace’s reaction:
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Biggest loser may be Environment Minister Koizumi, who criticized the country's support for coal power and called for the review
Koizumi took an optimistic tone on the outcome today, saying he expects it to be positively received overseas and show Japan is making progress
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Koizumi took an optimistic tone on the outcome today, saying he expects it to be positively received overseas and show Japan is making progress
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And here is our story
“The new policy, announced Thursday, is a blow to efforts to halt Japan’s entrenched support for financing and developing coal plants, particularly in developing economies of Southeast Asia” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-09/japan-to-link-coal-power-support-with-long-term-green-goals
“The new policy, announced Thursday, is a blow to efforts to halt Japan’s entrenched support for financing and developing coal plants, particularly in developing economies of Southeast Asia” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-09/japan-to-link-coal-power-support-with-long-term-green-goals
Lastly, a shoutout to my colleagues @ayaryohei and @aaronaclark1
Last week they secured the scoop that Japan wasn’t going to make meaningful changes to their coal export policy https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-29/young-blood-may-fail-to-curb-japan-s-support-for-coal-power?sref=DLVyDcXJ
Last week they secured the scoop that Japan wasn’t going to make meaningful changes to their coal export policy https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-29/young-blood-may-fail-to-curb-japan-s-support-for-coal-power?sref=DLVyDcXJ
