Toshiba to build solar plants at Japan disaster-hit FukushimaJune 20, 2012 - 14:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Toshiba Corp said on Wednesday, June 20, it will begin building solar plants with a total generating capacity of 100 megawatts on the country's disaster-hit northeastern coastline, making it the biggest solar project in Japan, Reuters reported. Electronics conglomerate Toshiba, which makes everything from lightbulbs to nuclear reactors, said it will spend around 30 billion yen ($379.6 million) to build several large-scale solar plants in Minami Soma more than a year after a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. The project overtakes an earlier plan by Kyocera Corp, heavy machinery maker IHI Corp and Mizuho Corporate Bank, which said it will launch a 70-megawatt plant in southern Japan. Toshiba said it will start building the plants this year and aim to start operations in 2014. Residents of Minami Soma, located just 25 km (16 miles) from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, were forced to flee their homes last year after a part of the city was deemed a no-gone zone by the government in the wake of the world's worst atomic disaster in 25 years. The company's announcement comes after the Japanese government approved new incentives for renewable energy through an introduction of feed-in tariffs (FIT) this week, which is expected to unleash billions of dollars in clean-energy investment. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |