Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2011 August 17 - 23 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Nuclear energy and political parties – LDP (Part 2)

Money buys nuclear power plant construction

An LDP heavyweight and one-time cabinet minister said, “To the LDP, nuclear power generation was at the center of economic development.”

Following the establishment of the governmental Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in January 1956, the government mapped out a long-term basic plan on atomic energy development and use. When the first nuclear power generation in Japan began in 1965 at Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture, the 1967 long-term plan stated that nuclear energy is at the stage of practical use. The 1972 plan called for an output of 32 million kw by 1985, 60 million kw by 1985, 100 million kw by 1990, surprisingly high figures set as goals for annual output.

At industrial world’s request

Behind these plans were the demands of big business. The long-term plan committee of the Atomic Industrial Forum (AIF), made up of electric power firms, in 1970 compiled an interim report calling for nuclear power generation at the end of FY 1990 to be at around 119.7 million kw.

The AEC in its 1972 long-term plan estimated that more than a dozen new construction sites will be required by FY 1980, and the required number will reach two or three times that amount by FY 1990.

Today, 54 nuclear reactors are concentrated at 17 power plant sites across Japan. In the initial plan, it was intended to have 130 nuclear reactors at about 40 power plant sites.

However, urged by apprehension in regard to safety and the impact on the environment, the anti-NPP movement increased nationwide immediately after the commercial operation of nuclear power plants started in Japan. Over a plan to construct the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP in Niigata, the electorate of ex-P.M. Tanaka Kakuei (in office from 1972-1974), with an overwhelming number of votes objected to the construction plan in a referendum held in July 1972 following the announcement of the construction plan by Tokyo Electric Power Co. in September 1969. Even AIF record on the “30 years’ peaceful use of atomic energy” had to admit that the tendency for localities to oppose construction already surfaced around 1970-71, when the AIF was promoting its long-term plan.

At Tanaka’s initiative

Three nuclear power generation-related laws (development promotion tax law, development promotion measures special accounting law, and law on the surrounding areas) were introduced in June 1974 under the Tanaka Cabinet.

The three laws were intended to give grants and subsidies to cities, towns, and villages hosting NPPs. Nuclear power promotion taxes to fund such grants were then imposed on electric power companies, which transferred the cost to electricity charges, and the general public ended up footing the bill. Tanaka demonstrated strong initiative in enacting the laws.

In his book “Remolding the Japan Archipelago” (June 1972), he posed the question “How can NPP construction be facilitated without encountering resistance from the local residents?” Then he introduced his ideas behind the three laws, saying, “NPP construction should accompany the construction of roads, ports and town halls useful to the residents. Another idea is to construct NPPs combined with industrial complexes with a view to increasing local communities’ income opportunities.”

In his policy speech in January 1974 when he was prime minister, he expressed strong determination to enact the legislation, saying that prudent and powerful measures should be taken so that construction of NPPs will lead to enriching local residents, along with the need for the government to make further efforts to gain public understanding of the safety ensured in promoting nuclear power generation.

The three laws were intended to take advantage of the economic plight of people and municipalities in depopulated areas using the infusion of money. Under the laws, the amount of the grants sharply diminishes ten years after construction. In order to pay the cost for maintaining the facilities they built with the grants, local municipalities have no choice but to accept the additional construction of a second or a third nuclear reactor.

The New York Times (May 30) reported that the powerful P.M. Tanaka Kakuei, who promoted nuclear power generation, came up with a skillful mechanism of government subsidies with the use of taxes paid by the general public flowing into localities hosting NPPs. Tanaka played a pivotal role in ensuring the increased construction of NPPs in Japan.

(To be continued)