Japan power demand down 1.4%

Government calls to save electricity pulled down power demand in Japan by 1.4 percent in July from a year earlier.

That marks the second straight month of year-on-year declines, with utilities looking to meet demand for electricity with fossil fuel-fired plants.

Japan's total utilisation rate at its 10 nuclear power generators rose to an average 2.9 percent in July from zero in June, a Reuters calculation based on trade ministry data showed on Wednesday, reflecting the restart of two reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co's Ohi nuclear plant.

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