ID :
197940
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 18:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197940
The shortlink copeid
Japan to send official to Turkey Sat. for nuclear plant talks
TOKYO (Kyodo) - Japan will send an official to Turkey on Saturday for talks on plans for Tokyo to export its nuclear power generation technologies to the country, resuming discussions which have been suspended since the Fukushima nuclear crisis broke out following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Japanese officials said Thursday.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda has said the official of his ministry is expected to ''correctly convey Japan's situation'' to Turkey, after Prime Minister Naoto Kan declared earlier this month that Japan should seek to reduce its dependence on nuclear energy.
A senior Turkish energy ministry official told Kyodo News last week that preferential negotiating rights given to Japan on the construction of a nuclear plant in Sinop on the Black Sea coast would be lost unless Japan clarifies its stance on the resumption of bilateral talks by the end of July.
The deadline of the negotiations involving Toshiba Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which is currently grappling with the emergency at its Fukushima Daiichi plant, had previously been set at the end of March, but it was extended at Japan's request.
Senior TEPCO official Junichi Matsumoto said Wednesday that the utility ''will not be involved in the project in Turkey'' so that it can concentrate its efforts on containing the nuclear contingency and dealing with compensation for those affected.
The officials said Kan's announcement of reducing reliance on nuclear energy will not cause an immediate change in Japan's policy of promoting exports of its nuclear power generation technologies. However, Japan faces difficulties in finding a substitute plant operator for TEPCO, they said.
No Japanese utility firms will likely join a bid to export their nuclear technologies, and Tokyo is now looking for foreign companies that would team up with Toshiba, which manufactures nuclear reactors and plant facilities, they said.
Turkey, which is also an earthquake-prone country, has said it will press ahead with plans to build its first nuclear plant, despite concerns raised by the Fukushima crisis. Turkey has no intention of putting off the planned start of the plant's operation in 2019, the Japanese officials said.
Earlier, South Korea had been negotiating with Turkey on the planned nuclear plant construction but the two sides failed to reach an agreement over financial issues. France has shown interest in taking part in the project.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda has said the official of his ministry is expected to ''correctly convey Japan's situation'' to Turkey, after Prime Minister Naoto Kan declared earlier this month that Japan should seek to reduce its dependence on nuclear energy.
A senior Turkish energy ministry official told Kyodo News last week that preferential negotiating rights given to Japan on the construction of a nuclear plant in Sinop on the Black Sea coast would be lost unless Japan clarifies its stance on the resumption of bilateral talks by the end of July.
The deadline of the negotiations involving Toshiba Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which is currently grappling with the emergency at its Fukushima Daiichi plant, had previously been set at the end of March, but it was extended at Japan's request.
Senior TEPCO official Junichi Matsumoto said Wednesday that the utility ''will not be involved in the project in Turkey'' so that it can concentrate its efforts on containing the nuclear contingency and dealing with compensation for those affected.
The officials said Kan's announcement of reducing reliance on nuclear energy will not cause an immediate change in Japan's policy of promoting exports of its nuclear power generation technologies. However, Japan faces difficulties in finding a substitute plant operator for TEPCO, they said.
No Japanese utility firms will likely join a bid to export their nuclear technologies, and Tokyo is now looking for foreign companies that would team up with Toshiba, which manufactures nuclear reactors and plant facilities, they said.
Turkey, which is also an earthquake-prone country, has said it will press ahead with plans to build its first nuclear plant, despite concerns raised by the Fukushima crisis. Turkey has no intention of putting off the planned start of the plant's operation in 2019, the Japanese officials said.
Earlier, South Korea had been negotiating with Turkey on the planned nuclear plant construction but the two sides failed to reach an agreement over financial issues. France has shown interest in taking part in the project.
