“We will take all possible measures to guarantee the maximum capacity of power supply this winter, including the safe resumption of operations of the atomic plants,” the minister said at a press briefing.

Five of the planned nuclear units are ready to restart operation, while the remaining four plants are near to complete periodic inspections, Hagiuda said.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami dealt a severe blow on Japan’s energy self-sufficiency, due to the collapse of the Fukushima I nuclear power plant and the shutdown of other reactors in the country.

Up to that time, the atomic energy accounted for about 30 percent of the national electricity matrix.

Following the disaster and given the country’s scarce energy resources, Japan significantly increased oil imports and liquefied natural gas to meet the domestic demand from the industry, transportation and the household sector.

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