Japan has been steadily restarting an increasing number of nuclear plants following the Fukushima disaster and the subsequent suspension of most nuclear facilities. This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a stable and affordable energy supply.

Among the 33 operable nuclear reactors in Japan, 12, accounting for 11.6GW of power generation capacity, have successfully resumed operations after meeting stringent post-Fukushima safety standards.

In response to this shift, Australian miners are now diverting their coal away from the premium Japanese market to countries offering lower prices, such as China. Consequently, Newcastle coal prices have experienced a significant decline, plummeting by 65% year on year and trading at $122/t.

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