DJP: Role of state-backed nuclear crisis fund should be expanded

February 19, 2014

DPJ calls for more power for nuclear crisis fund

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140219_16.html

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party is calling for greater oversight of decommissioning and cleanup at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant by a state-backed nuclear crisis fund. It says this should include powers to investigate the operator's work.

The proposal comes as the government prepares a bill to expand the role of the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund set up to support Tokyo Electric Power Company after the nuclear accident. The bill would allow the fund to observe work to scrap the damaged reactors and decontaminate radioactive water at the plant.

The DPJ says the Fund should be given more power than the government bill provides for. The party says this will ensure the necessary work at the plant moves forward.

The DPJ proposes that the fund be authorized to investigate TEPCO and that the operator be required to provide information.

It says this will prevent the operator from neglecting its responsibilities on the grounds that its business is suffering.

The proposal also calls for greater financial transparency. It says the basis for calculating the cost of scrapping the reactors should be fully accounted for, to avoid limitless public spending.

It also recommends that the fund establish a mechanism to work closely with international experts and receive technical guidance and advice.

The Democratic Party will submit their proposal to the government on Thursday.

Feb. 19, 2014 - Updated 07:29 UTC