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180990
Mon, 05/09/2011 - 19:00
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https://oananews.org//node/180990
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Gov't to financially support Chubu Electric over Hamaoka suspension
TOKYO, May 9 Kyodo - The government said Monday it is ready to financially support Chubu Electric Power Co. over its decision to suspend operations at Hamaoka nuclear power plant in central Japan, while promising to maintain the current level of grants to local municipalities for hosting the plant even after operations are suspended.
''I would like to show my deep appreciation for the utility's swift response, although there may have been many difficulties,'' industry minister Banri Kaieda said shortly after Chubu Electric announced the suspension of its only nuclear power station located in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, in line with Prime Minister Naoto Kan's request.
He also said, ''If there is a concrete request from Chubu Electric over additional cost burdens it has to bear because of the suspension, we would like to consider financial support and other measures as much as possible.''
Kan's request to suspend the Hamaoka plant drew criticism from opposition lawmakers, with Tadamori Oshima, vice president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, showing concerns over its impact on the economy.
Oshima told reporters he is ''deeply worried'' about the consequences on the economy and said it is doubtful Kan made the request by taking into full consideration how to ensure a stable power supply.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party, said, ''The request was made extremely abruptly and came with no sufficient explanation. It is a dictatorial and arbitrary act that can be labeled as political grandstanding.''
Amid growing public distrust over nuclear power in the wake of the country's worst nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, Kan said Friday that all operations at the Hamaoka plant must be suspended due to the high possibility that a powerful earthquake could hit the area and trigger another serious nuclear crisis.
As for the grants given to local municipalities hosting the Hamaoka plant, Kaieda said that the current amount would be maintained and that the ministry would like to explain this fully to the local people.
The remarks were made as some local governments expressed concern about budget shortfalls following Kan's request.
In Japan, cities and towns near nuclear power stations receive additional subsidies from the central government.
Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Japan's stance on nuclear power has not changed even though the government called for the shutdown of the Hamaoka plant. He noted that the decision is based on experts' assessment that there is a very high possibility of a major earthquake in areas around the plant in the next 30 years.
A decision on whether to review Japan's nuclear policy will not be taken before a thorough examination of the causes of the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Edano said.
''I would like to show my deep appreciation for the utility's swift response, although there may have been many difficulties,'' industry minister Banri Kaieda said shortly after Chubu Electric announced the suspension of its only nuclear power station located in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, in line with Prime Minister Naoto Kan's request.
He also said, ''If there is a concrete request from Chubu Electric over additional cost burdens it has to bear because of the suspension, we would like to consider financial support and other measures as much as possible.''
Kan's request to suspend the Hamaoka plant drew criticism from opposition lawmakers, with Tadamori Oshima, vice president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, showing concerns over its impact on the economy.
Oshima told reporters he is ''deeply worried'' about the consequences on the economy and said it is doubtful Kan made the request by taking into full consideration how to ensure a stable power supply.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party, said, ''The request was made extremely abruptly and came with no sufficient explanation. It is a dictatorial and arbitrary act that can be labeled as political grandstanding.''
Amid growing public distrust over nuclear power in the wake of the country's worst nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, Kan said Friday that all operations at the Hamaoka plant must be suspended due to the high possibility that a powerful earthquake could hit the area and trigger another serious nuclear crisis.
As for the grants given to local municipalities hosting the Hamaoka plant, Kaieda said that the current amount would be maintained and that the ministry would like to explain this fully to the local people.
The remarks were made as some local governments expressed concern about budget shortfalls following Kan's request.
In Japan, cities and towns near nuclear power stations receive additional subsidies from the central government.
Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Japan's stance on nuclear power has not changed even though the government called for the shutdown of the Hamaoka plant. He noted that the decision is based on experts' assessment that there is a very high possibility of a major earthquake in areas around the plant in the next 30 years.
A decision on whether to review Japan's nuclear policy will not be taken before a thorough examination of the causes of the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Edano said.
