Sony considers summer shutdown

PlayStation platform holder Sony has said that it may have to close some of its company premises in Japan later this year.

The BBC reports that the move is being considered both as a response to the ongoing power shortages dogging the country following last month’s earthquake.

The Japanese government recently outlined a number of energy-saving targets and asked all manufacturers to reduce their energy consumption.

One possible course of action would be to bring forward a number of national holidays and then ask staff to work additional days later in the year.

A number of other companies such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda have already reduced production at manufacturing plants.

"There’s very high uncertainty on Japan’s outlook," the International Monetary Fund’s Naoyuki Shinohara stated.

"If power shortages are prolonged or if the situation at the nuclear plant deteriorates, the outlook will change… the risk is firmly to the downside."