In Japan, opponents of nuclear power generation are typically categorized as "liberals," and proponents of nuclear power generation as "conservatives." The liberals argue that Fukushima is already proof that a nuclear accident can and does put people lives at risk. The conservatives argue the issue from the standpoint of economic efficiency, maintaining that doing away with nuclear power generation means bigger electricity bills, which would hurt the competitiveness of th
In Japan, opponents of nuclear power generation are typically categorized as "liberals," and proponents of nuclear power generation as "conservatives." The liberals argue that Fukushima is already proof that a nuclear accident can and does put people lives at risk. The conservatives argue the issue from the standpoint of economic efficiency, maintaining that doing away with nuclear power generation means bigger electricity bills, which would hurt the competitiveness of the nation's industry.
We need to deepen national debate by going beyond this "liberal versus conservative" pattern of argument.
There is not a single "right" answer when discussing our country's energy policy. Each country has to take its own situation into careful consideration in deciding what policy to adopt. Germany has opted against nuclear power and France is keeping it, and both countries knew their decisions would define their respective national identities. Japan must outgrow its "either-or" mentality and seek an energy policy that will best meet our particular needs.
The Strategic Energy Plan adopted by the Naoto Kan administration in June last year is designed to increase dependence on nuclear energy for electricity supply to 50 percent by 2030.
But given the March 11 disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the subsequent suspension of operations at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, coupled with the growing difficulty for the nation to reach a consensus on energy-related issues, the Kan administration needs to face reality and review the plan, and position nuclear power generation as a secondary or transitional power source that will cover only about 20 percent of domestic power needs.
It is also necessary to overhaul the current nuclear power generation structure, under which electric power companies could face unlimited liability for damages. Currently, 11 utilities are operating nuclear power plants, but the nuclear plants should be separated from them and consolidated into a single state-run enterprise. The purpose of this transition is to place greater responsibility on the government.
Scrapping old reactors is not an easy business decision for individual power companies to make, but not so for the government if it manages nuclear plants. And I believe the public will be receptive to any government decision to decommission old reactors and replace them with new and safer reactors, including those with smaller output capacities.
Any entity that deals with nuclear energy should be open and international by nature. My suggestion would be to establish an Asian version of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), so that Asian nations will be able to work together on problems related to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.
Having shunned the temptation of nuclear armament, Japan has been committed only to peaceful utilization of nuclear energy. This is precisely why Japan must lead the world where nuclear safety is concerned, including sharing the lessons it has learned the hard way from the Fukushima disaster. Should Japan be found to be lacking in the technological base and the expertise needed to keep nuclear energy safely harnessed, Japan's voice will cease to be heard in the rest of the world.
There is a speculation that Kan is considering dissolution of the Lower House for a snap election, with the nation's energy policy as the focal issue. But it would be irresponsible of the prime minister to try to lead public opinion by focusing on renewable energy sources when he has not even given any indication yet of how he intends to review the very energy plan he was pushing only last year.
China is trying to achieve nuclear-generated power output in excess of 80 million kilowatts. Japan must face this reality squarely, and not lose sight of its role in the international management and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.
(This article was compiled from an interview by Satoshi Ozawa.)
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Jitsuro Terashima is president of Japan Research Institute. Born in 1947, he joined Mitsui & Co. in 1973 and eventually headed its office in Washington. His published works include "Noriki no Ressun 1-3" (Brain-power lessons 1-3), which is a compilation of commentaries he contributed regularly to "Sekai" (World) magazine published by Iwanami Shoten, Publishers.