Crunch time for power grid as Japan’s heatwave gets even hotter
Japan braced on Wednesday for its hottest day yet of a record-breaking heatwave, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for a ramp-up of nuclear power use amid fears of a shortage of electricity to keep air conditioners whirring.
As some manufacturers announced plans to scale back production to save power, temperatures of around 40 C were predicted in areas surrounding Tokyo on the fifth day of the capital’s worst June heatwave since records began in 1875.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast that temperatures there won’t drop back to 30 C until July 5.
“The electricity demand and supply situation is expected to be the toughest in the last three days (of this week),” an industry ministry official told reporters.
