As the nation prepares for a heatwave, the Japanese government has asked residents of Tokyo and the surrounding area to use less electricity.
This afternoon local time, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry anticipates “extreme” demand for electricity. It advised turning off superfluous lights while continuing to utilize air conditioning to prevent heatstroke. Authorities have been warning of a power shortage as the temperatures climb for weeks.
Over the weekend, the mercury climbed above 35°C in central Tokyo, while Isesaki, a city northwest of the capital, reached a record 40.2°. The temperature in June was the highest ever in Japan. Summer in Japan officially begins in June, when daily highs are normally below 30°C. In a statement released yesterday, the ministry predicted that on Monday afternoon, Tokyo and eight neighboring prefectures’ excess electricity production capacity will fall to 3.7%. For a reliable power supply, it considers a 3% buffer to be necessary.
From 15:00 Tokyo time (07:00 BST), the government advised people to turn off superfluous lights for three hours while ‘properly using air conditioning and hydrating during hot hours.’ The ministry stated that despite efforts to enhance supplies by electrical providers, the situation was ‘unpredictable’ due to the rising temperatures.
Since certain nuclear power reactors’ operations had to be suspended in March as a result of an earthquake in Japan’s northeast, the country has had a limited supply of electricity. In an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, officials have also shut down a number of outdated fossil fuel plants. There is a power shortage as a result of these problems and a rise in electrical consumption. The Japanese government urged people and businesses to use less electricity during the summer earlier this month.
As of Sunday afternoon, 46 individuals had been admitted to hospitals in Tokyo for what is believed to be heatstroke, according to the Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
Netizens took to Twitter to express their thoughts. Twitter user @DocSkyAZ tweeted, “Failing power grids. Over population is a threat to all societies.”
Failing power grids. Over population is a threat to all societies
— Doc Sky (@DocSkyAZ) June 27, 2022
Another Twitter user @katanalongid31 tweeted, “They need mention turning up the thermostat and using fans to compensate. Simple way to save energy without sacrificing comfort.”
they need mention turning up the thermostat and using fans to compensate. simple way to save energy without sacrificing comfort
— Katana (Taylor’s Version) (@katanalongid31) June 27, 2022
Twitter user @Paladinbob123 tweeted, “Think how bad it must be in Japan for the government to ask people to turn off their lights to reduce the heat coming from them?”
think how bad it must be in japan for the government to ask people to turn off their lights to reduce the heat coming from them? @SykesCharlie @JoeNBC @Timodc
— paladinbob123 (@Paladinbob123) June 27, 2022
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