TOKYO, June 5 (Reuters) - Japan needs to rebuild between

two and five ageing nuclear reactors by the 2040s and as many as

11 to 14 by the 2050s to secure stable power supply, the

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a policy

proposal on Friday.

The proposal, outlined at a meeting on nuclear policy,

reflects a shift towards greater reliance on atomic energy to

help meet rising power demand and reduce costly fuel imports.

The 14 new nuclear power plants would have a capacity of

about 16 gigawatts (GW), METI said.

Japan shut its 54 operating nuclear reactors after the 2011

Fukushima nuclear disaster, due to public fear about the

industry's safety standards. Of the 33 units that remain

operable, 15 have been restarted.

Tokyo last year revised its basic energy policy to maximise

the use of nuclear power. However, many reactors are approaching

or exceeding their 60-year operational lifespans, raising

concerns about a future decline in nuclear capacity even if

restarts of idled plants continue.

By setting concrete replacement targets, the government aims

to improve predictability for utilities, the draft said.

The moves also come as demand for electricity is expected to

rise sharply, driven by data centres for AI.

Under the current energy plan, Japan aims to double the

share of nuclear power in its electricity mix to around 20% by

fiscal 2040. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is a strong backer of

nuclear power, seeking to ease the bill for imported coal, gas

and oil, which fuel 60% to 70% of Japan's power generation.

Public trust in nuclear energy has yet to fully recover

following safety concerns and recent controversies, including

Chubu Electric's falsification of seismic risk assessments for

its Hamaoka nuclear plant.