June 28, 2011
The Yamaguchi prefectural governor on June 27 in an assembly meeting stated he will not extend a permit for Chugoku Electric Power Co. to continue its reclamation project to build a new nuclear power plant in Kaminoseki Town.
Yamaguchi prefectural citizens’ groups opposing the construction plan applauded the governor’s decision as a response to their efforts.
Citing the fact that Yamaguchi’s local assemblies in June respectively adopted statements calling for the cancellation or suspension of the construction plan, Governor Nii Sekinari said that these actions led to his refusal.
Out of nine cities and towns located within a 30-km zone from the site for the planned new nuclear power station in Kaminoseki, eight municipalities adopted statements of opposition in their local assemblies.
The current reclamation permit will automatically expire in October 2012 if not renewed.
In order to construct the Kaminoseki nuclear power station with two nuclear reactors, Chugoku Electric started reclaiming about 140,000 square meters of the sea area in October 2009 with permission from the governor at the time.
Opposition from local people, including those on Iwaishima Island, four kilometers west of the reclamation site, caused significant delay in going ahead with the project. Furthermore, the governor and the Kaminoseki Town mayor ended up calling on the power company to suspend the project. At present, the project is under suspension.
Yamaguchi prefectural citizens’ groups opposing the construction plan applauded the governor’s decision as a response to their efforts.
Citing the fact that Yamaguchi’s local assemblies in June respectively adopted statements calling for the cancellation or suspension of the construction plan, Governor Nii Sekinari said that these actions led to his refusal.
Out of nine cities and towns located within a 30-km zone from the site for the planned new nuclear power station in Kaminoseki, eight municipalities adopted statements of opposition in their local assemblies.
The current reclamation permit will automatically expire in October 2012 if not renewed.
In order to construct the Kaminoseki nuclear power station with two nuclear reactors, Chugoku Electric started reclaiming about 140,000 square meters of the sea area in October 2009 with permission from the governor at the time.
Opposition from local people, including those on Iwaishima Island, four kilometers west of the reclamation site, caused significant delay in going ahead with the project. Furthermore, the governor and the Kaminoseki Town mayor ended up calling on the power company to suspend the project. At present, the project is under suspension.
