This Week's Update — Stopping All Nuclear Power Plants in Japan (7th May, 2012)
Japan's last operating commercial nuclear reactor, Tomari No.3 in Hokkaido, went offline on 5th May for mandatory routine maintenance. The nation undergoes situation without atomic-generated electricity for the first time in 42 years. This is because restarts of nuclear power plants are difficult.
Restarts of nuclear power plants are possible if authorized by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) upon application by power companies. Local officials located near nuclear power plants, however, have opposed restarts because of widespread anxiety of Japanese people after the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Further, former Prime Minister Naoto Kan required rigorous stress tests before restarts for power companies last year without due process of low. Demands and supplies of electricity will be tight by stopping nuclear power plants nationally, especially during summer time when the demand increases.
1) GEPR interviewed Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa, a former elite bureaucrat of METI. Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa involved in the electrical management law revision team, and management team of energy policy. He expressed a calm and balanced opinion.
"Restarting Nuclear Power Plant, Correcting Mistakes in Lack of Public Dialogue in Nuclear Policy - Interview with Mr. Kazuo Ishikawa, a former METI bureaucrat " (English Translation Coming Soon)
2) A lot of people went into a state of panic for radioactivity after the Fukushima accident. A woman expressed her experience to a GEPR staff.
"Return from the radiation panic - an experience of a housewife" (English translation coming soon)
