New government demands ‘responsible energy policy'

Japan's Prime Minister has announced construction of new reactors Japan's new government has no plans for a switch-off of nuclear power. However, stringent security regulations and public opinion mean any radical rebirth of the country's atomic industry seems unlikely.
 The gap between supporters and opponents of nuclear power has widened since recent parliamentary elections in December.
 However, new Prime Minister Abe is a clear proponent of the nuclear energy. After taking office, he even announced the construction of new reactors. His Liberal Democratic Party [LDP] is Japan's main party in support of nuclear power.
 For decades, the LDP has believed in a solid triangle of bureaucracy, industry and academia, which has never questioned the safety of nuclear power and nuclear reactors.
This so-called "nuclear village" also prevented the necessary precautions being implemented that would have safeguarded the nuclear facility in Fukushima against a tsunami.
 New Premier Abe praised the clean-up workers for their efforts during his visit to the dilapidated plant. "Your courage is the great hope and the future," he said. “And the challenge is not over. It is the first time in history that mankind faces such an enormous clean-up task. The success of this would lead to the rebuilding of Fukushima and of Japan," said Abe.
He also added that a nuclear switch-off was something that would not be achieved by wishful thinking alone.
 Within three years, providing the country's Nuclear Regulation Authority [NRA] give necessary safety approval, 48 nuclear reactors that were shut down are due to come back on line.
 Ultimately, the nuclear policy of the new government will differ little from that of the previous government. The last cabinet and Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda had proposed as a goal that nuclear power should be phased out within 30 years, although no concrete measures had been implemented. Despite this, the Noda government approved the further construction of two reactors, which had been put on hold immediately after the meltdown in Fukushima. His government also approved the recommissioning of a reprocessing plant for spent fuel rods.
 Neither Abe nor Motegi have so far commented on whether they would limit the life cycle of reactors to 40 years, as had been decided upon but not grounded in law by the previous government.
 During the election campaign, Abe expressed the opinion that Japan could not afford the nuclear shutdown for purely economic purposes. However, staying with nuclear power could also cost the country dearly. "I want a responsible energy policy," he said.
 
Source: Deutsche Welle