information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
19 Mai 2012
May 20, 2012
The government plans to overcome possible electricity shortages this summer with the cooperation of businesses and residents in western Japan, but people in the region are likely to be dissatisfied with the measures.
The government on Friday officially announced power-saving measures for the summer, which will be in effect from July 2.
To minimize electricity consumption cuts in Kansai Electric Power Co.'s service area, where a serious power shortage is predicted, those in the service areas of Chubu Electric Power Co. and three other utilities in surrounding areas will be asked to reduce power consumption to provide surplus electricity to KEPCO.
But residents in areas included in the government plan and companies that transferred operations to western Japan last year expecting sufficient power supply in the region may face difficulties over the cuts.
Makoto Yagi, chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan who is also KEPCO's president, said at a press conference on Friday, "It's extremely regrettable that we have to ask other areas to reduce consumption ."
Yagi apologized because the measures will affect service areas of other utilities, possibly causing power shortages.
Some companies are reviewing production plans or improving facilities in preparation for a possible power shortage although such measures are costly.
Toyota Motor Corp. will bring in eight in-house natural gas power generators and install cogeneration systems in 12 plants in Aichi Prefecture.
This will raise the percentage of the company's in-house power generation from about 20 percent currently to about 30 percent.
Toyota set this year's domestic production goal at 3.4 million units, up 23 percent from last year.
If production is hampered by power shortages, Toyota will face a disadvantage against its U.S. and South Korean rivals in the global market. This possibility prompted Toyota to invest in the backup systems.
But President Yoshiomi Yamada of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) said: "Why was Chubu Electric chosen to provide power? I also don't understand how the decision was made."
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Businesses rethinking plans
A number of companies that considered moving production to western Japan amid concerns of possible power shortages due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake are now reconsidering, following the announcement of electricity reduction targets of 15 percent in KEPCO's service area.
Although a power shortage is predicted for KEPCO's service area--and others this summer--KEPCO could possibly avoid a power shortage if KEPCO's Oi nuclear power plant is restarted.
Businesses are apparently perplexed with the government's indecisiveness over restarting the facility.
"We are really confused [over conservation measures] as [we have no idea] whether the Oi plant will be restarted," said Akihiro Nikkaku, president of Toray Industries, Inc.
Some companies have already reviewed their production plans. Lion Corp. is going to move part of its detergent production from a factory in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, in KEPCO's service area, to a factory in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, which is in Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s service area. The move is necessary as the factory uses huge amounts of power to dry materials. Although these production shifts may allow companies to hedge against power shortages, they may be hit with increased costs as TEPCO raised electricity charges for large-lot users.
Meanwhile, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., which moved part of its call center from Tokyo to Osaka in 2011, is not considering a similar move this year.
"We will meet the 15 percent power reduction target by decreasing lighting and setting air conditioners at a higher temperature," a company spokesperson said.
Fujitsu Ltd. is still considering what to do this year after it relocated part of its data center from the Tokyo metropolitan area to Hyogo Prefecture in 2011.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is considering shifting some of its daytime production to evenings at its two factories in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures while maintaining production numbers.
The government was slow in compiling its power reduction plan, announcing it on Friday.
"As few politicians have experience in business, they don't understand our sense of crisis and urgency," said Yasuchika Hasegawa, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and president of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.
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