nuclear-news

Japan’s government to continue promoting sales of nuclear technology

The government has decided to promote nuclear power technology as Japan’s main infrastructure export and launched an international sales promotion campaign led by the prime minister.

But the devastating accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has changed the situation dramatically.

In drawing up guidelines for a review of the new growth strategy, the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan has adopted a policy of reducing the nation’s dependence on nuclear power with official Cabinet approval.

The government has effectively relinquished plans to build new nuclear reactors, and reactors that have been stopped for regular safety checks remain offline with no clear prospect for the resumption of their operations.

There can be no reasonable case for the government to lead efforts to sell nuclear technology to other countries when one of the worst nuclear accidents in history has taken place in this nation, raising many serious questions about the future of atomic energy.

With the situation at the Fukushima complex not under control yet, the government has no time to engage in such activities in the first place…..

the nuclear crisis has laid bare many problems with electric power companies that operate and maintain nuclear power facilities. It has also revealed serious flaws in the nuclear safety and regulatory systems.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the crippled Fukushima power station, has already announced its total withdrawal from the business of exporting nuclear power plants.

Other utilities are also under strong pressure to make a sweeping review of their nuclear power businesses.

It is doubtful whether Japan’s sales drive for nuclear power technology has a reasonable chance of success when the leading player has left the team…

August 25, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized