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Japan ceases policy of promoting nuclear energy

Japan drops nuclear promotion, Today, Oct 29, 2011 TOKYO – Japan’s government abandoned its policy of promoting atomic power, saying it will reduce reliance on the sector in its first annual review of energy since the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The energy white paper, approved by the Cabinet yesterday, calls for a reduction in the nation’s reliance on atomic power in what was the third-biggest user of the fuel before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. It also omits a section on nuclear power expansion that was in last year’s policy review….
“Public confidence in safety of nuclear power was greatly damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima atomic station,” the paper said. The government “regrets its past energy policy and will review it with no sacred cows”.

The government is aiming to form a new nuclear agency under the Environment Ministry by April, by merging the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and the Nuclear Safety Commission.

Meanwhile, TEPCO yesterday submitted an initial request for ¥900 billion (S$14.75 billion) in state aid to avert bankruptcy, the Nikkei newspaper reported. The company may have to pay ¥4.5 trillion by March 2013 to compensate residents and businesses affected by the disaster. Bloomberg

October 29, 2011 - Posted by | Japan, politics

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