This Week’s Update — Points at Issue of the Nuclear Power – Regulations and External Environmental Costs (18th June, 2012)
There are numerous points of issues regarding the nuclear power. Among them, we introduce columns about public regulations and external environmental costs.
1) Sawada Tetsuo, PhD, an assistant professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology Research Laboratory for Nuclear Reactors Energy Engineering, contributed a column “Facile Establishment of Nuclear Regulatory Agency of Japan should Not be Allowed - Expertise Ensures Safety and Trust”(English translation coming soon).
As you can see from the fact that the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred, nuclear regulatory systems in Japan was not appropriate. Dr. Sawada points out that the new organization should have strong independence, expertise, and consider objections."
２）GEPR editorial staffs with experts of electricity, presents ”Considering external cost nuclear power generation is low — from “Extern E””
Experts of energy in various countries considered external costs of electric power plants. EU (European Union) made an indicator “Extern E” to measure them.
External environmental costs of nuclear power are lower than other plants according to Extern E. Because of Fukushima Nuclear power plants accident, with political decision, nuclear power probably can no longer be used in Japan. We should, however, consider this problem from the view of costs.
11th May, 2012
