Panel Recommends Japan Keep Emphasis on Nuclear Power

Wants to reverse phase-out plan by previous administration

Japan should continue to use nuclear power as a key energy source despite the Fukushima power plant disaster, a government panel said Friday in a reversal of a phase-out plan by the previous government.

The draft energy plan issued by the panel underscores Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's push to restart as many nuclear reactors as possible under new, stricter safety requirements that took effect this past summer.

Currently, all 50 of Japan's reactors are offline for safety inspections or maintenance.

The draft Basic Energy Plan says nuclear energy should remain "an important and basic power source that supports the stability of Japan's energy supply and demand structure."