TOKYO (Kyodo) – Japan will suspend new government support for the exports of domestic coal-fired power plant companies, even at high efficiency, without technology to reduce or further capture carbon dioxide emissions, on Friday said. Minister of Industry.

The government decided the day before to end new funding for overseas coal-fired power projects without emission reduction measures by the end of the year, in line with the recent agreement by Group of Seven leaders to end government support for “relentless” coal-fired power plants.

“The granting of government support to exports will be judged not from the point of view of their effectiveness, but of the taking of measures to reduce emissions,” said the Minister of Economy, Trade and Commerce. Industry, Hiroshi Kajiyama, at a regular press conference.

Increasing the efficiency of coal-fired power plants can reduce CO2 emissions and Japan has supported the export of these plants. However, Kajiyama’s remarks indicate that Tokyo will no longer approve them unless action is taken to reduce emissions.

Mixing coal with ammonia, which does not emit CO2 during combustion, and storing the CO2 released into the ground would be among the possible technologies to enable exports from coal-fired power plants, although they are still in the pipeline. experimental stage.

The government has yet to decide which methods can meet the demands of its export support.