The Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan presented on July 29 an interim report on new energy policies. The basic thrust of the policies is that Japan will "decrease its number of nuclear reactors."
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan presented on July 29 an interim report on new energy policies. The basic thrust of the policies is that Japan will "decrease its number of nuclear reactors."
In working out the position, the Cabinet apparently gave consideration to pro-nuclear forces who are opposed to Kan's idea of "abolishing all reactors," while maintaining momentum toward the decrease in the number of reactors.
"We were able to establish a basis for innovative strategies on energy and environment," Kan said in the environment and energy conference July 29.
Kan originally hoped to create a nuclear-free society, in which all nuclear reactors would be abolished.
"We are going to create a society in which we can meet energy needs without nuclear power," Kan said at a news conference July 13 in response to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
However, he was sharply criticized by politicians, business leaders and bureaucrats. They said that it is not realistic to create a nuclear-free society and that Kan's remark ignores economic concerns.
Opposition was expressed even by members of Kan's Cabinet.
"It is not an issue on which we must form a conclusion immediately," said Koichiro Genba, minister in charge of national policy.
"How will we procure energy?" asked Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.
In the face of the mounting criticism, Kan backed down.
"It's just my personal opinion," he said.
However, support for a nuclear-free society is spreading among the general public. A recent Asahi Shimbun opinion poll showed that 77 percent support a nuclear-free society.
In working out the interim report, the National Policy Unit, headed by Genba, was not able to ignore public opinion. Therefore, it maintained the direction toward the decrease in the number of reactors.
The office also included in the interim report two ideas supported by Kan. One was that the government will review current regional monopolies held by electric power companies. The other was that the government will consider spinning off electricity distribution businesses from electric power companies.
"The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which Kan regards as an adversary, made considerable resistance (to the inclusion of those ideas in the interim report)," said an executive of the National Policy Unit.
Meanwhile, as for nuclear reactors whose operations are currently suspended due to regular inspections, the interim report specified that the government will accept the restart of their operations if their safety is confirmed.
The policy, which was described in the government's short-term (3-year) plan, is based on the reality that electricity from nuclear reactors accounted for as much as 29 percent of all the electricity generated in Japan in fiscal 2009.
As for an electricity supply source that can replace nuclear reactors, Kan initially put expectations on "electricity reserves," or extra portions of electricity generated by privately owned power generation facilities.
When he heard that acceptance of resumption of operations at nuclear reactors will be described in the interim report, Kan complained, saying, "Are they having serious discussions?"
However, a survey found that the amount of electricity reserves is only 1.28 million kilowatts, which is equivalent to electricity generated by just one reactor. After that, he stopped complaining about the issue.
"A final decision (on whether all the nuclear reactors should be abolished) can only be made by giving high consideration to public opinion," Genba said. "Prime Minister Kan understands this."