Image reproduced from 中央社

During the DSET Supply Chain Resilience International Summit held on the 14th, experts engaged in lively discussions focusing on the future of energy supply chains. The energy session highlighted the resilience of natural gas, hydrogen, and the power grid. Daisuke Harada, head of research at the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), emphasized that Japan has legally mandated the restart of nuclear power construction. He stated that this is a critically important issue for Japan 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, asserting that "if we do not undertake this, Japan cannot achieve its long-term low-carbon and decarbonization goals."

Harada also pointed out that scientific studies estimate a 98% probability of Japan experiencing a larger earthquake than in 2011 within the next 30 years. Despite the risks, the Japanese government has approved a basic strategy for new energy in February this year, which also considers current geopolitical factors.

With the United States becoming the most important partner for Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, Harada called for strengthening multilateral cooperation to promote the development of clean energy. The summit gathered over 550 participants, including representatives from domestic and international media, embassies, and industry leaders. Discussions also covered strategic cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), energy security, and drone supply chains.

Harry Krejsa, director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, pointed out that China’s potential influence on critical energy infrastructure poses risks to the energy supply chain and must be approached with caution. Ian Stachwell, a senior researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, highlighted that Australia not only possesses rich natural gas resources but also has the potential to develop hydrogen, making it an important partner in energy supply within the Indo-Pacific region.