nuclear-news

The complicated politics of Japan’s planned nuclear power phaseout

Fukushima Slugfest, Forbes, James Conca 9 Oct 12 — Japan’s New Nuclear Regulation Authority No one wants to make a decision on nuclear power in Japan. This is not surprising since the weak regulatory environment and complicity between government and industry in Japan led to the Fukushima disaster in the first place.

But now it’s time to take charge again and to do it right, using the
United States as a model. The first place to start is developing a
strong regulatory agency and a questioning safety culture that won’t
look the other way just to save someone from embarrassment….. who
has the power to restart nuclear reactors in Japan? My guess is that
it is the NRA approving the safety of the reactor and any restart
plans, followed by the host municipality and the prefectural governor
deciding that they want it restarted.

This appears to be the view of Seiji Maehara who now oversees the
nation’s nuclear policy as a new Economics Minister. Maehara stated
that the recently formed Nuclear Regulation Authority has the power to
approve the restart of nuclear reactors if they meet safety
requirements (Japan Daily Press – NRA).

But what about the central government? The central government used to
have the final authority on nuclear. They recently declared it would
end all nuclear power in the next two decades, but then declared it is
allowing two new nuclear plants under construction to be completed. In
addition, Prime Minister Noda ordered two reactors in Oi, Fukui
Prefecture, to be restarted. When asked to approve the no nukes
pledge, the Diet said it would investigate further. So it is really
confusing whether the no-nuke pledge will hold.
Although the majority of the Japanese public opposes nuclear power, it
is extremely difficult for the Economics Ministry to agree to the
no-nuke pledge. Maehara really cannot oppose restarting the nuclear
reactors in light of the urgent need for power and the cost of both
permanently shutting down all reactors (they have no spent fuel
repository yet) and gearing up alternative sources….. Further
complicating the picture is the threat from Japan’s largest business
federation to move operations offshore if the reactors are not
restarted  . These firms include heavy industry manufacturing
operations and are some of Japan’s largest employers. ….
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/10/09/fukushima-slugfest-japans-new-nuclear-regulation-authority/

October 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general