Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the commissioning of nine nuclear reactors to help with anticipated power shortages.

Kishida said that there are concerns about power shortages this winter.

He said the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will do all it can to get nine reactors running during the winter, which could provide about 10 percent of Japan's energy needs.

Japan is struggling with power outages due to extreme weather, the decommissioning of old power plants and delays in restarting nuclear reactors that were shut down after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. Japan is also reducing its use of energy sources from Russia.

While Japan is already facing power outages for the rest of the summer, the coming winter is expected to be very difficult.

Kishida has stepped up the rhetoric around nuclear power, demanding a faster restart of facilities that have passed safety tests. However, Japan's central government has little ability to actually order the plant to restart, as there is a strict regulatory process in place.

Ten of Japan's 33 operating nuclear reactors have been restarted in accordance with safety regulations since Fukushima, although some have been shut down due to maintenance. Another seven units have been approved by the national nuclear regulator to restart, but have yet to start up due to the need for upgrades or lack of local support.