Japan Press Weekly

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2012 September 12 - 18 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

METI okays another N-plant against ‘zero’ nuke goal in 2030s

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano Yukio stated that the METI will not change the already-approved plan to construct another nuclear facility in Aomori, contradicting the new energy strategy aiming at “zero”-nuclear power in the 2030s.

Edano on September 15 met with the Aomori governor and the mayor of Rokkasho Village where several nuclear fuel-cycle facilities are located, and told them that the ministry will also not change the plan regarding the Oma Nuclear Plant currently under construction.

It was just two days ago when a government panel drew up a new energy and environment strategy pledging the target of achieving “zero”-nuclear reactors in the 2030s.

The new strategy includes a policy to refrain from constructing nuclear power plants or adding another reactor to the existing facilities, and calls for the strict application of the rule to limit plant operations to 40 years.

Given this 40-year limit rule to the Oma plant already under construction with the governmental endorsement, this plant will be able to operate until the 2050s. The government has already agreed to a contradiction between this plan and its recently-drawn strategy.

The METI minister also stated the government intention to continue the nuclear fuel-cycle program by stating, “The government will responsibly keep promoting (the plutonium-thermal project).”