On September 5, the ACT Matsushima website was launched. ACT Matsushima is an information platform on the GENESIS Matsushima Project, and is designed to engage with citizens in considering the issues surrounding the planned thermal power project.
Coincidentally, today, September 5th, is designated as International Clean Coal Day, with coal-promoting businesses, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and some local governments issuing statements about coal utilization. In addition, the technology planned for use in the GENESIS Matsushima Project is also being discussed as “clean coal technology.” However, considering the significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and air pollutants emitted when coal is burned, in reality there is no such thing as “clean coal,” and so-called “clean coal technology” has not yet reached a stage where it can be said with confidence that it will be realized.
The GENESIS Matsushima Project is a plan by Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-Power) to add coal gasification equipment to Unit 2 of the Matsushima Thermal Power Station, an outdated coal-fired power plant that’s been operating for over 40 years*, to continue its use with marginally improved efficiency. The Matsushima Thermal Power Station is an aging supercritical (SC) plant with low generation efficiency and should be decommissioned as soon as possible. If the GENESIS Matsushima Project is realized, this power plant will continue to emit enormous amounts of CO2 far into the future.
*Unit 1 (500 MW) began operation in January 1981, and Unit 2 (500 MW) began operation in June of the same year.
To avert a worsening climate crisis, there is absolutely no room to tolerate such significant greenhouse gas emissions from aging thermal power plants. At 2021’s COP26 conference, countries around the world, Japan included, agreed to a phase-down of coal-fired power. Additionally, Japan’s G7 agreements include accelerating the phase-out of coal-fired power. Proceeding with the GENESIS Matsushima Project runs counter to these global efforts and international commitments to phase out coal.
If the GENESIS Matsushima Project comes to fruition, similar plans to extend the lifespan of aging coal-fired power plants could emerge at other facilities. This only further delays Japan's coal phase-out when it is required to stop extending the life of coal-fired power plants.
▼ACT Matsushima is an information platform developed by organizations sharing a common awareness of the climate crisis. The organizations are as follows (listed in no particular order):
Kiko Network, 350 New ENEration, Fridays For Future Nagasaki, ゼロエミッションを実現する会
▼Contact
If you wish to contact ACT Matsushima, please use the contact form.
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