Mitsubishi Heavy wins Japan's support for next-generation nuclear reactor development
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries logo is seen in this illustration taken July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
TOKYO, Aug 5 : Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has won Japanese government support for three projects to develop next-generation nuclear reactor technologies, including advanced light water reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), it said on Wednesday.
• The projects, selected under the industry ministry's supplementary budget programme, cover safety technologies and a standard design for advanced light water reactors, design and component technologies for SMRs and technologies to strengthen the supply chain for next-generation reactors.
• Japan plans to revive its nuclear power capability to bolster energy security and decarbonisation.
• The government's latest basic energy plan, approved in February 2025, calls for maximum use of nuclear power and promotes the development and deployment of next-generation reactors while strengthening supply chains and human resources.
• Japan has adopted new nuclear policy guidelines that call for replacing up to five reactors by the 2040s and as many as 14 by the 2050s to ensure a stable power supply.
• The guidelines, which were approved last week, said that advanced light water reactors and SMRs had effectively reached the stage of practical deployment from a technical standpoint.
• Mitsubishi Heavy said it is developing its SRZ-1200 advanced light water reactor with the aim of early commercial deployment in Japan. It is also leading government-backed development of test fast reactors and high-temperature gas reactors under Japan's green transformation programme.
• The latest subsidies would also accelerate development of a domestically designed SMR tailored to Japan's seismic and tsunami conditions, Mitsubishi Heavy said.
