Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 22 - 28 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Pro-nuke forces propagate groundless rumors regarding withdrawal from nuclear energy

While all nuclear reactors in Japan were stopped from operating for two years, those who seek for the resumption of the operations of these reactors are carrying out propaganda related to negative consequences from the suspension of nuclear reactors.

Based on an estimate by the Economy Ministry, pro-nuclear power forces are claiming that a vast amount of national wealth is being eroded away because utilities have to import more fuel for their thermal power stations.

Before the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, nuclear power plants generated a total of 275 billion kWh a year on average. Assuming that thermal power stations will generate the 275 billion kWh to cover the amount of energy produced from nuclear power plants, the ministry estimated that power companies would need to pay an additional 3.7 trillion yen to import oil, gas, and coal in 2014.

However, there are flaws in the pro-nuke forces’ claim.

First, an increase in value of fuel imports should be attributed more to the depreciation of the yen and higher international prices of fuels than the increased volume of fuel imports. Between 2010 and 2014, import of liquid natural gas grew by 1.26 times in terms of volume and by 2.26 times in terms of cost. During the same period, the amount of coal imports rose by 8% while the amount of crude oil import decreased.

The blame for the heavier financial burden of importing fuels should be placed not on the cessation of operation of reactors, but on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s economic policies which brought about the weaker yen.

Second, the advocates for nuclear power generation ignore the fact that the output of thermal power did not actually increase as much as the economy ministry’s estimate assumed. The estimate neglected to take into account people’s efforts to reduce electricity consumption.

Japan consumed 10% less electricity in 2014 compared to 2010, according to the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan. As a result, an increase in thermal power output between 2010 and 2014 stood at 164 billion kWh, over 100 billion kWh less than the estimate’s assumption.