Japans Nuclear Plants

Only five months ago Japan relied on nuclear plants for about 30% of its electrical power.

Today thirty eight of the country’s 54 reactors are currently shut down. There are no dates set for their return to service.

At least shorter term I would imagine there is no other solution for the Japanese than to replace some of this electricity with fossil fuel as well as of course save on energy.

The Chinese depends heavily on diesel engines in order to generate electricity as they constantly are facing power shortages. I would imagine the Japanese now have to implement something similar in order to manage the coming winters electricity shortage.

Then given the disastrous nuclear accident on can but wander if now the objective really is to restart the closed reactors or to close the remaining functioning reactors?

Seems anemic economic growth from Japan is to be expected for quite some time?

Japan PM wants less reliance on nuclear power
"We should seek a society that does not rely on nuclear energy," Kan said. "We should gradually and systematically reduce reliance on nuclear power and eventually aim at a society where people can live without nuclear power plants."

"If nuclear reactors currently shut for maintenance were delayed in resuming operations, the country could face a power shortfall in the months ahead"
Read more at:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/japan-pm-wants-less-reliance-on-nuclear-power-118994&cp

The US dollar since 2006 has lost some 60% of its value vs the Japanese Yen. So thats then another issue for the Japanese economy as its export industry is hurt by their currency.
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=USDJPY=X+Interactive#chart1:symbol=usdjpy=x;range=5y;indicator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;source=undefined

Add to this the fact the Japanese, as the large foregin buyer of US treasuries it is, now with the US dollar value decline in real terms is loosing significantely and its clear the US situation really isent very much help for the Japanese in order to get their house in order after the Fukushima accident.