Japan to minimise 10 pct power shortage next summer

TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) - Japan's government will work to minimise the risk of a 10 percent power shortage during peak summer demand and electricity cost rises of 20 percent -- events that could occur if none of the nation's nuclear plants are running, a government energy policy paper showed on Friday.

The government also reiterated that it plans to push forward the restarts of halted nuclear reactors if their safety is confirmed with stress tests.

But the paper did not touch on whether Japan plans to scrap nuclear power in the future as unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan abruptly suggested this month. (Reporting by Yoko Kubota; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)