Japan industry minister seeks restart of nuclear reactors
Jun. 20, 2011
Industry minister Banri Kaieda on Saturday called for the restart of nuclear reactors currently suspended, to meet summertime electricity demand, saying immediate countermeasures for severe accidents have been taken ''appropriately'' at the nation's nuclear power plants.
But local governments hosting nuclear power plants appeared largely cautious, saying they will need to thoroughly examine such measures at each utility.
Noting that power shortages facing the country could cause a ''hollowing out'' of Japanese industries, he called on local governments and residents to accept the restart of reactors that have been halted longer than planned due to the ongoing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Kaieda expressed readiness to visit areas hosting nuclear power plants to gain the acceptance of local governments and residents for the move, telling a news conference, ''The state will thoroughly explain the safety of atomic energy to local people as its responsibility.''
Thirty-five of the nation's 54 commercial reactors have been halted for regular inspections and other reasons. Rebooting them has hit a snag as local governments hosting them have expressed concerns about their safety in the wake of the country's worst nuclear plant crisis triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Local governments need to consent to their restart in accordance with their safety agreements with power plant operators.
Ishikawa Gov. Masanori Tanimoto said in a statement it is difficult to make a judgment on the possible restart of the Shika plant in the prefecture unless the government explains more about the difference in situations between the Hamaoka plant, which the government has formally asked the operator to shut down, and the other plants.
Shimane Gov. Zembee Mizoguchi also said in a statement that he will need to check whether safety measures at the Shimane plant are sufficient.
On Saturday, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, a body under the industry ministry, said it had determined that nearly all short-term measures have been taken to prevent severe accidents at nuclear power plants, prompting Kaieda to say that there is no safety problem with rebooting the suspended reactors.
At the news conference, he also indicated the need for devising comprehensive safety standards to obtain understanding from local governments and people worried about the safety of nuclear power plants.
On June 7, the safety agency called for 11 nuclear power plant operators to report on countermeasures at their plants to prevent accidents similar to the ones at Fukushima.
The agency then conducted on-the-ground inspections for countermeasures reported by the operators, including steps to ensure communication during blackouts, protective gear against high-level radiation and mechanisms to release hydrogen gas from reactor buildings.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on June 18, 2011)
But local governments hosting nuclear power plants appeared largely cautious, saying they will need to thoroughly examine such measures at each utility.
Noting that power shortages facing the country could cause a ''hollowing out'' of Japanese industries, he called on local governments and residents to accept the restart of reactors that have been halted longer than planned due to the ongoing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Kaieda expressed readiness to visit areas hosting nuclear power plants to gain the acceptance of local governments and residents for the move, telling a news conference, ''The state will thoroughly explain the safety of atomic energy to local people as its responsibility.''
Thirty-five of the nation's 54 commercial reactors have been halted for regular inspections and other reasons. Rebooting them has hit a snag as local governments hosting them have expressed concerns about their safety in the wake of the country's worst nuclear plant crisis triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Local governments need to consent to their restart in accordance with their safety agreements with power plant operators.
Ishikawa Gov. Masanori Tanimoto said in a statement it is difficult to make a judgment on the possible restart of the Shika plant in the prefecture unless the government explains more about the difference in situations between the Hamaoka plant, which the government has formally asked the operator to shut down, and the other plants.
Shimane Gov. Zembee Mizoguchi also said in a statement that he will need to check whether safety measures at the Shimane plant are sufficient.
On Saturday, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, a body under the industry ministry, said it had determined that nearly all short-term measures have been taken to prevent severe accidents at nuclear power plants, prompting Kaieda to say that there is no safety problem with rebooting the suspended reactors.
At the news conference, he also indicated the need for devising comprehensive safety standards to obtain understanding from local governments and people worried about the safety of nuclear power plants.
On June 7, the safety agency called for 11 nuclear power plant operators to report on countermeasures at their plants to prevent accidents similar to the ones at Fukushima.
The agency then conducted on-the-ground inspections for countermeasures reported by the operators, including steps to ensure communication during blackouts, protective gear against high-level radiation and mechanisms to release hydrogen gas from reactor buildings.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on June 18, 2011)
