Japan Press Weekly

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2011 July 6 - 12 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Gov’t new safety assessment prioritizes resumption of N-reactor operations

The government on July 11 announced its new policy to determine whether off-line nuclear reactors are ready to resume operations or not.

This announcement came after Prime Minister Kan Naoto on July 6 withdrew the government’s prior call on local governments to approve the restart of suspended nuclear reactors and states that all nuclear power plants should be comprehensively assessed as safe before restarting reactors.

In the new policy, the government still contends that reactors during operations and during regular inspections “have been undergoing through safety examinations more carefully than ever.” It explains, however, that because the government has not gained enough understanding and trust from the public in regard to the safety, it will carry out its safety assessment based on a “new rule”.

Under the new rule, electric companies will evaluate the safety of their nuclear reactors and the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency and the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan will confirm these evaluations.

It is irrational to believe that Kyushu Electric Power Co., which attempted to manipulate the public into accepting the resumption of its plant, and other power companies nationwide that are willing to resort to any means necessary to maintain nuclear power generation will accurately assess the safety of nuclear reactors or that the NISA and the NSC, which played no role in bringing the Fukushima accident under control, will responsibly verify the utilities’ self-assessment.

Furthermore, the new rule will allow nuclear plant operators to be able to restart their reactors if they carry out a basic test before undergoing a comprehensive safety test, which the government calls a “stress test”, which reveals the government’s “resumption first” position.

It is impossible for the government to convince the general public that this new rule will ensure safety at the time when 70-80% of the public opinion demands that the government reduce or end the use of nuclear energy.

If the government intends to conduct a “stress test” on nuclear power plants, the test should be carried out under the government’s responsibility by utilizing the wisdom and capability of experts who are independent and free from collusion and the constraints of the “nuclear safety myth.”