Reuters reported that Japan's main power companies burned 19% more gas and more than doubled oil usage in the April to June quarter than a year earlier, increasing their costs as the world's third biggest economy went without nuclear power for the first time since 1970.

Kansai Electric Power Company's two reactors went online in July, but the remaining 48 remained shut for tighter safety checks after last year's radiation crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The following table shows the 11 main power producers' actual fuel consumption for the 3 month period compared to year earlier figures. Power wholesaler J Power's formal company name is Electric Power Development Company.

Crude and fuel oil volumes are in thousands of kilolitres, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal are in thousands of tonnes. One kilolitre is equal to about 6.2898 barrels. Year ago figures are in parentheses.

Source - Reuters

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