Energy plan revision

January 24, 2014

Gov't to alter description of nuclear power in basic energy policy plan

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140124p2a00m0na012000c.html

The government is set to change the description of nuclear power in the draft of its basic plan on energy, it has emerged.

The draft currently describes nuclear power as an "important base power source that serves as the foundation" for energy.

"We'd like to come up with an appropriate description while considering opinions within the ruling coalition," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a news conference on Jan. 24.

Motogi denied that the government will change the phrase, "base power," meaning electricity that is constantly generated and consumed.

"Base power refers to electricity that is constantly used, even if it accounts for only 1 percent of power consumed in the country," Motegi said.

However, the minister added, "If such a description gives the public the impression that it corresponds to a large amount or high priority, we'd like to consider changing the wording according to context."

In December last year, an advisory panel to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry drafted a basic plan on energy calling for a departure from the policy of ending Japan's reliance on nuclear power under the previous government led by the Democratic Party of Japan.

However, some ruling coalition members have voiced concerns that the draft could give the public the impression that the government intends to revive its policy of promoting atomic power.

The government will make a final decision on the description of atomic power in its basic plan on energy after the Tokyo gubernatorial race, in which the pros and cons of restarting nuclear plants is a major point of contention.

Energy plan revision eyed to avoid nuclear reliance ‘misunderstandings’

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/24/business/energy-plan-revision-eyed-to-avoid-nuclear-reliance-misunderstandings/#.UuJhD7Qo-aQ 

Kyodo

The Abe administration will consider revising a draft energy policy so it doesn’t stir “misunderstandings” that the nation will rely heavily on nuclear power in the medium to long term, industry minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Friday.

The draft says nuclear power is an “important base-load power source,” but Motegi said “base-load power” refers to an electric source that is used continuously regardless of how much power it supplies.

“I do not intend to change the term ‘base-load power.’ But if it is perceived as an electricity source used for an extremely large amount . . . I will consider changing the context,” he told a news conference.

The administration is in the final stage of deciding the Basic Energy Plan, which will be the first of its kind since the Fukushima nuclear disaster started in 2011, having already solicited opinions from the public.

The plan also says Japan will seek to reduce nuclear dependence as much as possible, but this has stirred controversy among ruling party lawmakers who see it as still taking too strong a pro-nuclear tone.

Nuclear policy has become one of the key issues in the Tokyo gubernatorial campaign that kicked off Thursday, with former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa tying up with fellow former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in calling for an end to nuclear power.

The administration is apparently wary the high-profile effort will provoke anti-nuclear sentiment still lingering from the Fukushima debacle