Japan wants to restart seven more nuclear reactors from next summer onward, Japan PM Kishida said at a government meeting on "green transformation." That would bring the number of reactors brought back online after the 2011 Fukushima catastrophe to 17 out of a total 33 operable units.

Japan new expansion of nuclear power comes after a summer impacted by extreme weather and a global fuel shortage on electricity supply. Tokyo has seen two major power crunches this year, including during the worst heat wave for the end of June in more than a century.

They are also looking at extending the lifespan of existing reactors beyond the current maximum of 60 years.

Japan will probably avoid using China and Russia's nuclear technology. About 80-85% of the new nuclear reactors are being built by China and Russia or are using China and Russia nuclear designs.

China is building a small modular nuclear reactor using conventional pressure water technology. A smaller 125 MWe reactor means the cost will be about eight times less than a gigawatt reactor.