Japan Press Weekly

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2016 July 20 - 26 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Sufficient electricity can be supplied without nuclear reactors

Akahata editorial (excerpt)

The government has decided not to make a power saving request this summer for the first time after the 2011 meltdown accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. After the earthquake-induced accident, reactors at nuclear power stations across the country one after another stopped operating in order to carry out their regular inspections. So, the government until last year asked for the efficient use of electricity during the summertime when power demand becomes the highest. Currently, all NPPs, except the Sendai NPP in Kagoshima, are offline, but the government decided not to call for the power saving effort this summer.

This is because the risk of an electricity shortage is expected to be not so serious this summer as power saving technology and renewable energy sources have become more and more common. The fact that Japan can guarantee sufficient electricity supply without depending on nuclear reactors has become an important fact of life.

Using a stable power supply as an excuse, the Abe government and utilities have been seeking to reactivate offline nuclear reactors which meet the safety standards of the Nuclear Regulation Authority. In addition to the Sendai NPP and the Ikata NPP (Ehime) which is scheduled to resume its operations in July, the Takahama NPP (Fukui) is on the way to being reactivated.

However, a government electricity forecast shows that electricity demand will be sufficiently met this summer. That is why the government skipped a power saving request this year. It is obvious that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s claim that restarting nuclear power plants is essential has collapsed. The government should give up its attempt to reactivate reactors.

The government needs to commit itself to creating a Japan without nuclear power as that will pave the way for further promotion of power saving and the use of renewable energy sources. This stance is important for not only a stable energy supply but also the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The risk associated with nuclear power generation is obvious. Nuclear power generation is an immature technology and one accident could drive a reactor out of control. The 2011 Fukushima accident revealed the risk pertaining to NPPs in one of the most quake-prone countries in the world. A series of earthquakes in April in the Kyushu region reminded Japanese that NPPs entail a high risk of accidents. It is too late for regrets after a nuclear accident happens. The government should stop trying to reactivate reactors and immediately halt the operations of the Sendai NPP.

Past related articles:
> Local residents demand referendum on planned restart of Ikata NPP [January 19, 2016]
> No.2 reactor at Sendai NPP put back online over public opposition [October 16, 2015]