nuclear-news

Japan replaces 3 pro nuclear officials with 3 more pro nuclear officials

“The three successors are people who will not promote reforms nor override objections from the energy industry,” 

Kaieda picks bureaucrats from pro-nuclear faction to lead METI, Asahi.com. 6 Aug 11, Banri Kaieda’s “reborn” industry ministry is looking quite similar to highly criticized one that was heavily armed to thwart the energy reforms pushed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

The industry minister on Aug. 4 decided on the replacements for three leading ministry officials who will be dismissed over the series of accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the manipulation of public opinion at state-sponsored symposiums on nuclear energy.

“The three successors are people who will not promote reforms nor override objections from the energy industry,” said a senior officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Kenyu Adachi, 59, director-general of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, will replace Kazuo Matsunaga, 59, as the vice minister for administrative affairs.

Hiroyuki Fukano, 54, director-general for commerce and distribution policy, will succeed Nobuaki Terasaka, 58, as director-general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

Ichiro Takahara, 55, director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, will become director-general of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, replacing Tetsuhiro Hosono, 58.

Kaeida’s picks were not surprising.

The successors were promoted based on the seniority system and other customs in the ministry.

They are also from the mainstream faction in the ministry that has long promoted nuclear power generation…..

But Kan, who is under pressure to keep his promise to resign, had no say on who should replace the fired officials…..

August 7, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics