TOKYO -- Chugoku Electric Power will need to offset emissions from a planned coal-fired power plant through such steps as shutting down old fossil-fuel capacity, Japan's environment minister said, warning that the project threatens the nation's ability to meet its climate goals.
The utility seeks to build another heavily polluting plant at a time when Japan already finds it challenging to achieve emissions reduction targets, Masaharu Nakagawa said in an environmental impact assessment to be submitted as early as Friday to Hiroshige Seko, minister of economy, trade and industry.