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187768
Fri, 06/10/2011 - 19:54
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https://oananews.org//node/187768
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Failure to resume nuke reactors will 'largely affect' economy: Kaieda
TOKYO, June 10 Kyodo - Industry minister Banri Kaieda said Friday that Japan's overall economy would see a ''large impact'' if utility firms in western Japan cannot resume operations of their nuclear reactors that are currently suspended for regular checkups amid public concerns about their safety.
Kaieda said he made the remarks during an informal ministerial session following the day's Cabinet meeting, given that more companies are shifting production to western Japan in the wake of the March 11 earthquake-tsunami disaster and subsequent nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which have raised fears of power shortages in eastern and northeastern Japan.
''I told other ministers that a decline in the western regional economy due to power supply shortages there would have a large impact on quake restoration and Japan's economy as a whole,'' Kaieda told a press conference.
Among Japan's 54 commercial nuclear reactors, more than 30 of them are not in operation because of regular checkups or have been suspended after the March disasters, according to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.
If the utilities are unable to resume operations of the reactors because of failure to win the understanding of local municipalities, it is possible all reactors would be suspended in about one year.
The Kansai Economic Federation, consisting of businesses engaging in economic activity in Osaka and surrounding areas, called on the government on Friday to step up efforts to win the understanding of local municipalities toward restarting nuclear reactors.
Federation Chairman Shosuke Mori said during a meeting with Kaieda that concerns about power shortages in western Japan are looming large, because the municipalities hosting reactors feel the government's explanation about safety is not enough.
Touching on Kansai Electric Power Co.'s announcement Friday to ask for power-saving efforts to households and firms this summer, Mori, who is also chairman of Kansai Electric, said, ''The business community in the Kansai region hopes that reactors would be restarted as soon as possible, and the request would be retracted.''
The government said in May that utilities nationwide have taken appropriate emergency measures as ordered to ensure the safety of their nuclear power plants in case they are hit by a large tsunami.
It also announced Tuesday additional measures the utilities should take to counter or prevent severe accidents that could inflict serious damage to nuclear reactor cores, including steps to prevent hydrogen explosions from occurring in the reactor buildings.
Kaieda told Mori his ministry would look into whether the nuclear plant operators have enhanced their preparedness in line with the fresh measures and seek the understanding of local residents.
At the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex, the power grid and most of the emergency diesel generators were knocked out by the quake and ensuing tsunami, resulting in the loss of many of the reactors' key cooling functions. A series of hydrogen explosions also worsened the situation.
Kaieda said he made the remarks during an informal ministerial session following the day's Cabinet meeting, given that more companies are shifting production to western Japan in the wake of the March 11 earthquake-tsunami disaster and subsequent nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which have raised fears of power shortages in eastern and northeastern Japan.
''I told other ministers that a decline in the western regional economy due to power supply shortages there would have a large impact on quake restoration and Japan's economy as a whole,'' Kaieda told a press conference.
Among Japan's 54 commercial nuclear reactors, more than 30 of them are not in operation because of regular checkups or have been suspended after the March disasters, according to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.
If the utilities are unable to resume operations of the reactors because of failure to win the understanding of local municipalities, it is possible all reactors would be suspended in about one year.
The Kansai Economic Federation, consisting of businesses engaging in economic activity in Osaka and surrounding areas, called on the government on Friday to step up efforts to win the understanding of local municipalities toward restarting nuclear reactors.
Federation Chairman Shosuke Mori said during a meeting with Kaieda that concerns about power shortages in western Japan are looming large, because the municipalities hosting reactors feel the government's explanation about safety is not enough.
Touching on Kansai Electric Power Co.'s announcement Friday to ask for power-saving efforts to households and firms this summer, Mori, who is also chairman of Kansai Electric, said, ''The business community in the Kansai region hopes that reactors would be restarted as soon as possible, and the request would be retracted.''
The government said in May that utilities nationwide have taken appropriate emergency measures as ordered to ensure the safety of their nuclear power plants in case they are hit by a large tsunami.
It also announced Tuesday additional measures the utilities should take to counter or prevent severe accidents that could inflict serious damage to nuclear reactor cores, including steps to prevent hydrogen explosions from occurring in the reactor buildings.
Kaieda told Mori his ministry would look into whether the nuclear plant operators have enhanced their preparedness in line with the fresh measures and seek the understanding of local residents.
At the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex, the power grid and most of the emergency diesel generators were knocked out by the quake and ensuing tsunami, resulting in the loss of many of the reactors' key cooling functions. A series of hydrogen explosions also worsened the situation.
