Japan has entered into final negotiations that would see Russia enriching Japan's uranium, thereby increasing this otherwise dependent country's ability to meet its own energy needs.

Behind the decision to commission Russia--the most fuel resource-rich country in the world--to enrich its uranium lies the fact that it would place Japan in a formidable position amid continuing international competition to obtain fuel.

However, by increasing Japan's dependence on Russia, that country will have control over Japan's nuclear lifeline. Stronger ties with Russia, which has fought with Japan over rights and interests for the development of the Sakhalin gas fields, would prove a double-edged sword. For this reason alone, discussion over the course resource-dependent Japan should take is likely to intensify.

Japan is the third-largest producer of nuclear energy in the world, behind the United States and France. Nuclear power produces less carbon dioxide, which is linked to global warming, than other energy sources, and will likely become an ever-greater source for meeting our energy needs. From 2017, the industry hopes to reach a capacity of 66.81 million kilowatts--a 30 percent increase over current output.