By William F. Martin

Japan has built a commendable energy security program since the 1973 oil embargo, but the Fukushima accident and complete halt of nuclear power threatens Japan’s economic competitiveness, environmental quality, and ultimately Japan’s national security. The overall trade surplus is up, and harmful environmental emissions are rising.

Japan’s energy self-sufficiency is the lowest among industrialized countries, and as the chart below shows, compared to other nations Japan ranks among the highest in terms of gross national income (GNI) per capita but the absolute lowest in terms of self-sufficiency.

Notes: The percentage beside each country name is the ratio of nuclear energy in the total primary energy supply, from the 2013 IEA Energy Balances for OECD and non-OECD countries. Source of energy self suffiencies and nuclear share: 2013 IEA Energy Balances for OECD and non-OECD countries. Source for GNI per capita (Atlas Method, current US$): World Bank. The IEA Energy Balance 2013 projections for 2012 were used for OECD countries. The IEA Energy Balance non-OECD 2013 data were plotted for 2011 (no projections exist for 2012). The GNI per capita figures selected for these countries are therefore relative to the 2011 and 2012 self-sufficiencies. The IEA projected small nuclear share in 2012 is from Ohi’s operation from July 2012 through September 2013 (No. 3 & 4, 1.18W respectively).

To read Mr. Martin’s full piece visit the Japan Chair Platform website at CSIS or read the .pdf here.

Mr. William F. Martin is an energy economist who has served as executive secretary of the National Security Council, special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and deputy secretary of energy under President Reagan. He was chairman of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee from 2002-2012 and former chairman of the Council on Foreign Relation’s Energy Security Group. In 2006, he was elected chairman of the Council of the University for Peace of the United Nations.