Japan Press Weekly

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2011 September 21 - 27 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

PM intends to restart suspended NPPs by next summer

Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on September 21 expressed his intention to restart operations of off-line nuclear reactors by next summer.

Asked by the reporter about his plans for the resumption of operations of idled nuclear reactors, the prime minister replied, “[F]rom spring through next summer, we must bring them back up as best as we can.”

When he delivered his policy speech in the Diet on September 13, he did not mention any specific time to restart the off-line nuclear reactors and stated that the time of the restart will be determined after ensuring the safety of the nuclear reactors and gaining the understanding of local residents.

In the interview, as a precondition for resuming the operations of nuclear reactors, Noda said, “We need to first ensure the safety of nuclear power plants through the use of various measures including stress tests. In the meantime, we have to gain the understanding of the citizens in prefectures and communities where the plants are located.”

Although Noda referred to the stress tests as ways to ensure safety, the government leaves the implementation of the tests to nuclear reactor manufacturers and power companies. In addition, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency which evaluates the validity of the test results is regarded as a pro-nuclear power organ. The agency also reportedly ordered the utilities to manipulate public opinion to accept nuclear power generation.

In order to remove public doubts regarding the stress tests, the Noda Cabinet plans to request the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess the test results. However, the IAEA is basically a promoter of nuclear power generation and has a fundamental principle that every country should be responsible for taking safety measures at their domestic nuclear power plants. The IAEA thus ensures that it has no responsibility for the safety of nuclear power plants in Japan.

Regarding the government plan to construct new nuclear power plants, Noda in the same interview said, “[T]here are plants where construction has already started and over 90% of the work is completed. So, we’d like to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.”

It is outrageous for Noda to assume a nationwide resumption of operations of nuclear reactors by next summer i and to make remarks endorsing new nuclear power plants, though the government has not brought the Fukushima nuclear power accident under control yet.