Will the public agree?

December 31, 2012

Abe expresses support for construction of new nuclear plants

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121231p2a00m0na002000c.html

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed support for the construction of new nuclear plants in an interview with TBS on Dec. 30 -- on condition that the government wins public understanding on the issue.

"New nuclear plants would be completely different from the old ones from 40 years ago like the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, which caused an accident. We'll approve the construction of new plants while getting the people's understanding on these differences," he told the television broadcaster.

At a news conference on Dec. 21, Abe had hinted he was willing approve the construction of new plants when he said he "would like to reconsider" the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)'s policy of generally not approving new construction.

In his interview, Abe stated, "The people are uneasy about how we will deal with our current power demands, and that's why those who carelessly touted an end to nuclear power plants failed to receive the people's trust (in the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election)."

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at a news conference on Dec. 27 that the administration intends to approve the continued construction of J-Power's Oma Nuclear Power Plant and the No. 3 reactor at Chugoku Electric Power Co.'s Shimane Nuclear Power Plant. On starting construction of new nuclear plants, he said, "We would like to make a decision on that after accumulating sufficient expert knowledge."

There are nine planned nuclear reactors in Japan whose construction is pending. Most are advanced boiling water reactors or advanced pressurized water reactors that incorporate safety and efficiency improvements into their original designs.

If construction of new reactors is approved, it will put an end to the DPJ's policy of having no active nuclear reactors by the end of the 2030s. On Dec. 29, Abe stated that he would not immediately make the DPJ policy his own administration's policy -- showing a clear intention of turning aside from the path of "ending dependence on nuclear plants."

However, part of the agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito on their governing coalition is that they will "reduce dependence on nuclear power plants as much as possible." New Komeito is opposed to the construction of new nuclear plants.