Kan seeking restart of nuclear reactors when safety confirmed+

TOKYO, June 19 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Sunday that the government will seek the early resumption of suspended nuclear reactors to prevent power shortages, in a webcast dialogue with the public on renewable energy.
''If all the nuclear reactors are stopped, its effect on the economy would be enormous. Once their safety is confirmed, they will resume operation,'' Kan said during the two-hour session in which his office was connected to disaster-hit Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture and two other places.
Kan also noted the need to revise the current system under which regional power utilities monopolize the generation, transmission and sale of electricity.
But the feasibility of revising the system has been brought into doubt amid widespread calls for Kan to step down soon.
''It is necessary to alter the way transmission is used to the advantage of power utilities that generate electricity on a massive scale,'' Kan said.
While reiterating the government's intention to promote renewable energy, Kan said, ''Administrative authorities that promote nuclear energy had intentionally not placed emphasis on (renewable energy), saying 'wind and solar power generation are costly and supplies are unstable'.''