Questions about JAEC's neutrality

October 24, 2013

Atomic commission advised to quit policy making

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131024_40.html

A government panel says the Japan Atomic Energy Commission should no longer set the country's nuclear policy.

Panel members on Thursday discussed a proposal for ending the policy-making role of the commission.

They gave their general approval to the proposal. Panel members said the commission's work is limited to the field of nuclear energy, while the industry ministry drafts the country's overall energy policy.

But some panel members question the ministry's neutrality, since it promotes nuclear energy.

The panel agreed to continue discussions on this and other related issues.

The commission has since 1956 revised Japan's long-term nuclear policy about once every 5 years.

The policy deals with issues such as the ratio of nuclear power in the country's total energy use and recycling spent nuclear fuel.

The panel has also been discussing abolition of the commission itself. It plans to make a decision by the end of this year.