ID :
178123
Tue, 04/26/2011 - 22:15
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https://oananews.org//node/178123
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Japan reviewing policy to export nuclear technology
TOKYO, April 26 Kyodo -
The Japanese government is considering whether to continue the joint effort of the public and private sectors to export nuclear power technology following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, government sources said Tuesday.
The matter came under consideration given a fall in international confidence in Japan's nuclear power expertise and the public sentiment against nuclear power amid the ongoing nuclear crisis, which is the worst in the world since Chernobyl, the sources said.
But Japanese manufacturers are still willing to continue the nuclear power business and a sense of resistance to a full withdrawal from the business in a growth field also remains within the government.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan aims to reach a conclusion on this matter by late May so he can convey the policy together with updates on Japan's efforts to contain the nuclear crisis at a Group of Eight summit meeting in Deauville, France, the sources said.
Last June, the Japanese government approved a new growth strategy envisioning exports of infrastructure, such as nuclear power technology.
To better compete with South Korea and Russia, rival countries in the field, the government has just been gearing up its efforts by having ministers themselves promote such exports.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said Tuesday at a press conference, ''I believe atomic power is very important among energies that human beings currently own and will carry considerable weight into the future.''
While saying it is too early to make conclusive comments on Japan's nuclear energy policy, he added that discussions should be over how much weight should be put on nuclear energy in the future. ''At least, it should not be an all-or-none type of argument,'' he said.
Meanwhile, National policy minister Koichiro Gemba said Friday regarding Japan's exports of nuclear technologies, ''We have to come to a stand once. We have to start from investigating the cause of the accident'' at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
After being hit by the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami, several hydrogen explosions took place at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant and radioactive materials have been leaked from it.
As a prerequisite for exporting its nuclear technology, Japan has already signed nuclear power pacts with five countries, including Jordan, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and plans to conclude them soon.
Japan has also been in talks with five other countries, including India and South Africa, for similar pacts.
The Japanese government is considering whether to continue the joint effort of the public and private sectors to export nuclear power technology following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, government sources said Tuesday.
The matter came under consideration given a fall in international confidence in Japan's nuclear power expertise and the public sentiment against nuclear power amid the ongoing nuclear crisis, which is the worst in the world since Chernobyl, the sources said.
But Japanese manufacturers are still willing to continue the nuclear power business and a sense of resistance to a full withdrawal from the business in a growth field also remains within the government.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan aims to reach a conclusion on this matter by late May so he can convey the policy together with updates on Japan's efforts to contain the nuclear crisis at a Group of Eight summit meeting in Deauville, France, the sources said.
Last June, the Japanese government approved a new growth strategy envisioning exports of infrastructure, such as nuclear power technology.
To better compete with South Korea and Russia, rival countries in the field, the government has just been gearing up its efforts by having ministers themselves promote such exports.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said Tuesday at a press conference, ''I believe atomic power is very important among energies that human beings currently own and will carry considerable weight into the future.''
While saying it is too early to make conclusive comments on Japan's nuclear energy policy, he added that discussions should be over how much weight should be put on nuclear energy in the future. ''At least, it should not be an all-or-none type of argument,'' he said.
Meanwhile, National policy minister Koichiro Gemba said Friday regarding Japan's exports of nuclear technologies, ''We have to come to a stand once. We have to start from investigating the cause of the accident'' at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
After being hit by the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami, several hydrogen explosions took place at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant and radioactive materials have been leaked from it.
As a prerequisite for exporting its nuclear technology, Japan has already signed nuclear power pacts with five countries, including Jordan, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and plans to conclude them soon.
Japan has also been in talks with five other countries, including India and South Africa, for similar pacts.
