nuclear-news

Nuclear corporations’ funding to Japan’s nuclear agency damages its credibility

Nuclear agency under fire for donations from industry body, Japan Times, 4 April 12, Kyodo Donations to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency from an electric utility industry federation and 11 companies in the industry have raised the possibility of a conflict of interest. The federation and 11 companies, including electric utilities and firms constructing and operating nuclear power plants, donated about ¥250 million over the past four years until Sunday, the last day of fiscal 2011, agency officials said.

Because the agency dispatches 10 staff members to a 62-strong examination committee at the government’s Nuclear Safety Commission, which oversees construction and modification of nuclear plants nationwide, the “donations could make the examinations a dead letter,” according to critics.

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, an industry group
that counts 10 utilities including Tokyo Electric Power Co. among its
members, claims the donations were made at the agency’s request….
According to the agency, of the ¥121 million in donations received in
fiscal 2011, about half, or ¥60.61 million, came from utilities.
Manufacturers of nuclear power plants and related companies were also
contributors, the agency said.

An agency representative said the agency sends letters requesting
donations to utilities and other companies every year, and at times
has even included a guideline on the amount of money to be donated.

Data kept since 2008 shows the agency received donations from the
industry federation and nine utilities, which are members of the
federation, as well as from Japan Atomic Power Co., the operator of a
nuclear power plant in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, and Electric Power
Development Co., which is constructing the Oma nuclear plant in Aomori
Prefecture….. In fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009, the federation’s nine
member utilities operating nuclear plants separately made donations,
with Tepco offering the largest amounts both years — ¥14.13 million in
fiscal 2008 and ¥13.73 million the following year.

In fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011, a donation worth the total amount
offered by those nine electric utilities was made under the name of
the federation, according to the data.

When constructing new nuclear plants or remodeling existing nuclear
power plants, the government gives approval following examinations by
such entities as various committees at the Nuclear Safety Commission.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a6.html

April 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties