Japan PM says must reduce dependence on nuclear power

"We must scrap the plan to have nuclear power contribute 53 percent (of electricity supply) by 2030 and reduce the degree of reliance on nuclear power," Kan told a parliamentary panel.

The crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima atomic plant has sparked public debate over the role of nuclear power in quake-prone, resource-poor Japan, as well as immediate concerns about power shortages as 35 of the country's 54 reactors are currently off-line.

Kan also said it would be difficult to suddenly and drastically boost the share of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, but that conservation measures could help in efforts to reduce reliance on nuclear power, which before the crisis accounted for nearly 30 percent of Japan's electricity supply.

Kan, under fire for his response to the nuclear crisis, also defended his decision to introduce two-stage stress tests for reactors to soothe public safety concerns, but apologised for any confusion caused by the sudden announcement of the steps.

Last week's surprise announcement of the stress tests fanned corporate worries about summer power shortages if idled reactors remain off-line, and outraged some local officials who had been ready to approve reactor restarts after getting government safety assurances.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, however, told a news conference that it would be possible to avoid summer power shortages due to public energy-saving efforts and measures by utilities.

Kan has already begun a blank-slate review of Japan's energy policy and set a goal of boosting renewable energy sources' share to more than 20 percent of electricity by the 2020s.

Opinion polls show growing public concern about nuclear power, but Kan has so far been unable to tap those worries to turn around his flagging fortunes.

The unpopular premier is under heavy pressure from opposition parties as well as critics in his own party to keep a promise to step down. Kan survived a no-confidence vote last month by pledging to hand over to his Democratic Party's younger generation, but has declined to specify when.

A survey by public broadcaster NHK released on Monday showed that support for the embattled prime minister, already Japan's fifth leader in as many years, had sunk to 16 percent, the lowest since the Democrats swept to power in 2009 promising change.

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