Lack of coordination on nukes delays decision on new energy policy

 January 11, 2013

Gov't to delay Cabinet decision on new energy policy

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140111p2a00m0na010000c.html 

The government will postpone a Cabinet decision on Japan's new basic energy policy to February or later due to a lack of coordination among ruling coalition members on nuclear power, and the Tokyo gubernatorial election that month, government sources said.

The decision came as members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito have failed to agree on a draft policy that would position atomic energy as a foundational power source to support a stable supply of energy. The decision also suggests the government is looking to put off setting energy policy until after the Feb. 9 Tokyo gubernatorial election as former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, an anti-nuclear power advocate, looks increasingly likely to enter the race.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Jan. 10 that establishing a responsible energy policy needs thorough discussion, taking into account some 19,000 comments from the public on the matter. While Suga denied any relationship between the Cabinet decision delay and the Tokyo election, the government is likely to settle on an energy policy after the February race.

Meanwhile, Akira Amari, minister in charge of economic revitalization, commented, "I want the government to work on a basic policy that is applicable for 10 to 20 years. It is understandable that such an important plan takes time to form."

The government had initially planned to reach a Cabinet decision on the policy this month after reviewing the public's input. However, some LDP politicians, such as Deputy Secretary-General Taro Kono, are set to propose drastic changes in the draft policy, claiming that the draft is inconsistent with the party's manifesto for the 2012 House of Representatives election. That document stated the party will work to create a socio-economic structure that does not rely on nuclear power.

LDP policy chief Sanae Takaichi on Jan. 7 demanded that the government handle the matter carefully for fear that pro- and anti-nuclear power members of the party could clash head-on.

Meanwhile, New Komeito is not at all satisfied with the basic policy ideas, as the party has campaigned for a zero-nuclear power society in the future.

January 11, 2014(Mainichi Japan)