Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 8 - 14 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Local residents strongly concerned about Sendai NPP safety

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) on October 9 held a briefing session for local residents regarding the “safety” of the offline reactors at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima’s Satsumasendai City. Almost all of the participants voiced doubts over the NRA’s explanation.

About 1,000 citizens took part in the meeting. Using a microphone, 10 people asked questions to NRA officials. Nine of the 10 questioners expressed deep concern over the reactors’ safety.

They said, “The state insists that they will minimize the risk of nuclear accidents. However, if an accident occurs, it is impossible to stop the spread of damage,” “How would the authorities deal with a terrorist attack or a natural disaster crippling the power plant?” and “What the government claims is unconvincing as it has failed even after three years to bring the Fukushima nuclear disaster under control.”

The NRA’s officials only said, “We cannot guarantee absolute safety and there will always remain the risk of accidents.”

Although many more participants raised their hands to ask questions, organizers forcibly ended the meeting by saying that they were “running out of time”.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s administration is planning to hold briefings for residents of municipalities located close to the power station. The government is aiming to reactivate the suspended reactors after obtaining the approval of the governor and assembly of Kagoshima Prefecture as well as the mayor and assembly of the plant-hosting Satsumasendai City.

Past related article:
> NRA OKs restart of Sendai NPP in disregard of public concern [September 11, 2014]