nuclear-news

Chorus of pro nuclear statements from vested interests

Japan’s Nuclear Exit; Nuclear Farce Or Who Is Behind The Resistance To Change  Simply Info, September 17th, 2012 | “……..The US decision to intervene uninvited into Japan’s energy debate comes at a time when the nuclear industry worldwide has been attacking Japan and Germany for their phase outs and going after other energy sectors with disinformation campaigns.

Some of the more notable comments made by US officials regarding Japan’s nuclear phase out:

US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman –
“At a meeting with the DPJ’s policy chief Tuesday, Poneman said that if Japan takes such steps it might have unexpected effects on the United States and other concerned parties, Maehara said.”

“Poneman replied that Japan must make its own decision on energy issues but requested measures to minimize any negative effects that may arise if Japan sets a zero nuclear target, according to Maehara. Japan should stay flexible about implementing the strategy, Poneman added, noting the importance of holding further discussions. If the world’s third-biggest economy snaps up fossil fuels, energy prices will change significantly, Poneman was quoted as saying.”

Unnamed US officials also declared the lack of nuclear power in Japan would be a “national security” issue. Yet Japan imports all of their nuclear fuel currently and all of their uranium. This puts the nuclear program into the same “national security” risk as other energy fuel sources.

A nuclear industry representative from “World Nuclear University” and former employee of nuclear company EDF, said this:
“I am scared by the decisions in Japan and France because these are short-term visions influenced by public pressure,” said Francois Perchet, technical adviser at the World Nuclear University and formerly employed at France’s EDF. “These people will be judged in 2080 for acting in their own interest instead of that of the planet.”

In the Fukui region of Japan the chairman of Kansai Electric Power (who also happens to be chairman of the local economic federation) decried the phase out this way:
“It’s extremely regrettable that what our company advocated was not accepted in the government’s decision. The policy of zero nuclear reactors in operation in the 2030s is not a government action that defends the lifestyle of the people”

KEPCO the large power monopoly in Fukui, Kyoto and Osaka:
“Kepco President Makoto Yagi warned that the new energy goals damaged the trust of the people in Fukui Precture, which hosts 11 Kepco reactors, including the two at the Oi plant that were restarted in July — the only ones now running. “Aiming for zero nuclear power plants means an increase in fossil fuel prices, utility bills, problems with global warming, and problems ensuring necessary personnel for nuclear power,” Yagi said, also in a press release.”

The head of the Kaidanren (Japan’s business federation) made these statements:
“The ruling parties should not be swayed by elections. They should think about the future of this country,” 

A vice president at GE Hitachi plays the “baseload power” card, something that has been proven to be a myth.
“You’ve got to go back to the fundamentals of why nuclear is important. It’s the drive towards low-carbon technology and nuclear will provide you that in large baseload amounts,”

It becomes more clear who are the power players in Japan’s nuclear program as people voice their displeasure to the media. France has also announced their plan to reduce nuclear dependency in the near term. Japan’s turn against nuclear energy if it actually does happen would be considerably bigger than Germany’s. Most of the big nuclear companies are now owned all or in part by Japanese companies. Toshiba-Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi are two of the big players. With Japan staking so much on nuclear power over the years, their exit would really be a blow to the world nuclear industry. The countries leaving nuclear behind would bring more pressure on the US and UK to do the same. http://www.simplyinfo.org/?p=7500

September 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, spinbuster