The original plan was to construct a 1,070 MW coal-fired thermal power plant and have it start operating in 2024. The environmental assessment process started in 2016. The region around the site has a long history of industrial air pollution and is exposed to dust and soot from steel plants even now. Local residents concerned about additional negative impacts on air quality established the “Citizens Group on the Soga Power Plant Project” in April 2017. The group reached out to local communities and engaged in many activities, working together with the Citizens Group on the Coal Power in Tokyo Bay and environmental NGOs to urge the proponents to abandon construction plans. In 2017, in response to preparatory documentation as part of the environmental assessment process, Japan’s Environment Minister issued a stern opinion calling on the proponents to “reconsider” the project. Despite that, in January 2018 the proponents initiated procedures (a methodology document) to continue with the environmental impact assessment process. As the process advanced, public opinion grew increasingly opposed to the construction plan.

Key problems with the project were (1) it went against the current global trend of coal phase-out in context of climate change and the Paris Agreement, (2) it would emit serious levels of PM2.5, mercury, and other pollutants, and (3) the site is in close proximity to many public facilities, including a soccer stadium, schools, and hospitals. Over the past year and a half, local community groups in collaboration with other organizations conducted a powerful opposition campaign, including protest actions in front of JFE Steel facilities, to convey the strong message that coal-fired power plant construction is unacceptable. The proponents’ announcement was what the local community and environmental NGOs have been persistently demanding.

However, the proponents announced that they would start considering a natural gas-fired power plant. It is still need to check further movement, so the local community will keep watching any future movement on this site.

Press Release of the local group and Kiko Network is available on the site (link).

Contact

Citizens Group on the Soga Power Plant Project
TEL: 81-90-7941-7655 WEB: https://nocoal-tokyobay.net/soga/

Kiko Network – Tokyo Office
TEL: 81-3-3263-9210 WEB: https://sekitan.jp Email: tokyo@kikonet.org