🇯🇵 Japan · Policy & regulation, Energy
11 storiesJapan transport ministry sets four-level flood risk plan for underpasses
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism published guidelines on October 6 classifying underpasses nationwide into four flood-risk levels and calling for remotely operated or automatic barriers at the most dangerous s…
Japan audit finds ¥14.9bn in road repair subsidies used for ineligible work
Japan's Board of Audit found that about ¥14.9 billion in state subsidies for bridge and tunnel repairs went to work outside the subsidy programme's scope, in 469 contracts at 88 municipalities, according to Asahi Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimb…
Shizuoka to charge for off-season Mt. Fuji helicopter rescues, aligning with Yamanashi
Shizuoka Prefecture will make climbers rescued by prefectural disaster helicopters during Mount Fuji's closed season pay for the rescue, Gov. Suzuki Yasutomo formally announced at the prefectural assembly. An ordinance is to be enacted with…
Fukushima's Futaba to lift evacuation order for two districts in December
Two districts in Fukushima Prefecture's Futaba Town are expected to have their evacuation orders lifted around December, which would let residents live there again after about 15 years and 9 months. It would be the first lifting in a “speci…
LDP approves bill to cut food consumption tax to 1% for two years
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved a bill at its general council on Oct 6 to cut the consumption tax on food to 1% for two years from next April, according to TBS NEWS DIG and NHK. The bill also includes an income-linked benef…
Japan minister: two Futaba districts may see evacuation orders lifted by December
Reconstruction Minister Hosono said on October 6 that the government will work with relevant ministries so that evacuation orders can be lifted in two districts of Futaba town, Fukushima Prefecture, possibly within December. The districts a…
UK weighs tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese EVs, in step with EU
Tokyo Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun report that the UK government is considering strengthening tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, in step with the European Union, with a rate that could be around 45 percent. Sanke…
Saudi Aramco CEO says global oil inventories are “frighteningly low”
Saudi Aramco chief executive Nasser said on 5 October that global oil inventories, drawn down as the Middle East crisis drags on, are “frighteningly low”, and that replacing the shortfall could take up to two years. He urged governments to …
OPEC+ voluntary group keeps November crude output quota unchanged
Seven OPEC+ voluntary countries decided at a meeting on October 4 to keep their November crude production quota unchanged at a combined 31 million barrels per day, Nikkei reported, the second consecutive month without a change. Actual outpu…
Fukushima's Futaba to lift part of evacuation order in December
Futaba town in Fukushima Prefecture plans to lift evacuation orders in December for part of the “specified return residence zone”, Nippon TV News reported, the first time a lifting period has been indicated for such a zone. Two of the town'…
G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of oil reserves over four months
G7 leaders agreed at an online summit on the evening of Oct 2, Japan time, to release 100 million barrels of oil reserves, including diesel, over four months through the International Energy Agency. A joint statement published by chair Fran…