nuclear-news

Japan’s government wants to restart nuclear reactors, but under pressure not to

Experts say the government is racing to try to restart two nuclear reactors by next month out of fear that surviving a total shutdown would make it hard to convince the public that atomic energy is vital to avoid serious power shortages.

A group of seven lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties, which wants Japan to abandon nuclear power, urged the government on Friday not to approve restarts hastily……

Cut nuclear reliance to zero: Japan energy minister abs-cbn news, by Risa Maeda, Reuters  04/07/2012  TOKYO – Japan should aspire to phase out nuclear power completely, its energy minister said on Friday, even as the government struggles to persuade a wary public that it is safe to restart reactors after the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.

Yukio Edano, whose trade portfolio makes him responsible for energy,
couched his remark as a personal and not necessarily realistic view –
though it could still anger utilities and industries eager to see
nuclear power bounce back……
“I’d like to see the reliance on nuclear cut to zero. I’d like to have
a society work without nuclear as early as possible,” Edano told a
news conference in energy policy.

“I myself think it should be reduced as soon as possible. But as to in
reality how quickly it can be reduced or whether it will ultimately be
reduced to zero – I want to judge based on discussion by experts.”

The government is crafting a new energy mix in light of Fukushima,
with experts’ options for atomic energy ranging from zero to 35
percent of electricity supply. In 2010, a government plan had called
for boosting that to more than 50 percent.

Japan’s nuclear industry is on its knees: all but one of its 54
reactors are offline, mostly idled as they came due for maintenance.
None can be restarted until each clears a safety review and gets the
nod from local governments.

Conflicting pressures

The government is keen to get some reactors restarted soon to avoid
power cuts in the summer when electricity demand peaks.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s administration is being buffeted by
conflicting pressures, with big businesses urging it to get reactors
back on line and keep atomic power in the energy mix to keep the
economy afloat, while many voters worry about safety after the
Fukushima crisis.

Experts say the government is racing to try to restart two nuclear reactors by next month out of fear that surviving a total shutdown would make it hard to convince the public that atomic energy is vital to avoid serious power shortages.

The last online reactor is due to shut for maintenance on May 5. Asked
if the government was rushing to restart other reactors before then,
Edano said: “No, not at all.”…..
Edano has said he wants to gain understanding from communities near
the reactors, including those such as Shiga and Kyoto prefectures
which are not hosts to atomic plants but are close enough to be at
risk of radiation from any major accident.

A group of seven lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties, which wants Japan to abandon nuclear power, urged the government on Friday not to approve restarts hastily……
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/04/06/12/cut-nuclear-reliance-zero-japan-energy-minister

April 7, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics