Parties positions on nuclear power differ

July 9, 2013

Election: Parties are differed on nuclear policy

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130709_15.html

Parties contesting in the July 21st Upper House election have clarified their positions on Japan's nuclear energy policy.

All 50 of Japan's nuclear power reactors are offline except for 2 after the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011. The country's nuclear regulator will decide whether to allow the reactors to resume based on its new safety guidelines. Four power companies applied for the early restart of 5 nuclear plants on Monday.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party says the government is responsible for providing a steady supply of cheap energy. It says it will make utmost effort to seek understanding of host municipalities to restart the reactors on condition the reactors pass the new safety standards.

The party says it will reduce dependence on nuclear power generation by promoting renewable energy resources.

New Komeito, the LDP's ruling coalition partner, says it will decide whether to restart the reactors after receiving approval from citizens and residents near the reactors. It says it will disapprove the construction of new reactors and will seek a nuclear-free society.

The largest opposition Democratic Party says the opinions of host communities need to be taken into consideration when restarting the reactors. It says all possible measures should be used to halt all reactors in Japan by the 2030s.

The Japan Restoration Party also seeks to reduce dependence on nuclear energy and turn all existing reactors offline by the 2030s.

Your Party says it will also seek to reduce dependence on nuclear power by the 2020s by banning the construction of new reactors and making better use of renewable energy.

The People's Life Party says it will oppose both the resumption of existing reactors and the construction of new ones. It says it will seek to abolish all reactors by 2022 at the latest.

The Japanese Communist Party says it will seek to suspend the resumption of reactors and reactor exports. It is calling for a drastic shift to renewable energy.

The Social Democratic Party opposes resumption of reactors. It says the government should work on a complete resolution of the Fukushima accident and relief of the victims first and foremost.

Green Wind says it won't seek the resumption of reactors and plans to start decommissioning all reactors by 2023.

Jul. 9, 2013 - Updated 03:25 UTC