Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is engaging over 200 parts suppliers as it prepares to replace aging nuclear reactors in Japan with its advanced light-water reactor planned for the 2030s market. The company has already confirmed availability for approximately 150 critical components and is exploring alternatives for the remainder.
The move comes as Japan reconsiders nuclear power’s role in its energy future. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster halted new construction, Mitsubishi has maintained its nuclear capabilities through maintenance work while developing its SRZ-1200 reactor model in collaboration with four Japanese utilities.
Nuclear power’s prospects have improved globally as countries pursue zero-emission energy sources. At COP28, 22 nations including Japan pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, while growing AI infrastructure is driving fresh demand. Microsoft plans to power data centers using a restarted Three Mile Island reactor.
Industry consolidation poses challenges, with Kawasaki Heavy Industries exiting the nuclear sector in 2021 and other suppliers shuttering operations. Meanwhile, China’s rapid reactor construction threatens Japan’s technological edge in what officials increasingly view as a national security concern.
