Wednesday 5 October 2011
To revise Japan's energy policy for New gov't panel plans
A new government energy panel, with nearly half of member experts critical of nuclear power generation, plans to revise Japan's national energy policy in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
The panel's deliberations are important as they will "probe a road Japan will take over the next 100 or 200 years," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano told the first meeting of the group yesterday.
The panel, newly created under the energy advisory committee of the industry ministry, is tasked with reviewing
Japan's basic energy plan that calls for greater reliance on nuclear energy, revised just last year.
It envisages nuclear power accounting for 53 per cent of all electricity generated in Japan by 2030 from about 30 per cent before the March 11 disaster.
With around 10 of the 25 panel members opposing nuclear power generation, opinions both for and against nuclear energy were presented during the panel meeting.
It differed from similar meetings in the past. A previous panel contained few opponents of nuclear energy, with the
ministry playing an important role in promoting nuclear power generation.
The panel, headed by Nippon Steel Corporation Chairman Akio Mimura, plans to compile a new energy plan by around next summer.
Edano asked panel members to promote discussions to sufficiently explore how the nation's energy policy should be, without being constrained by the current energy situation, saying, "Since the (Fukushima) accident, citizens' opinions and their trust on nuclear power have changed substantially."
Since the start of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant triggered by the March 11 earthquake and
tsunami, the government has shifted its stance to reducing the nation's reliance on nuclear power.
The panel experts differ on how quickly to reduce Japan's reliance on nuclear power, as well as ways to introduce renewable energy.
"(Japan) should not be dependent on nuclear power, and reduce it to zero as soon as possible," Hisa Anan, an official of the national liaison council of consumer groups (Shodanren), told the panel, referring to citizens' heightened concerns about nuclear safety.
Another panel member, Mitsui Co chairman Shoei Utsuda, called for calm discussions on nuclear power from a global standpoint, referring to ongoing nuclear power developments in China and other neighboring countries.
"I think it will be important for Japan to keep contributing to the world by improving nuclear technologies, from the standpoint of the nation's energy policy and its diplomatic strategy," Utsuda said.
Ryutaro Kono, chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities (Japan) Ltd, said there is a need to exit from nuclear power while taking measures to minimize negative impact of doing so on the economy.
The panel, newly created under the energy advisory committee of the industry ministry, is tasked with reviewing
Japan's basic energy plan that calls for greater reliance on nuclear energy, revised just last year.
It envisages nuclear power accounting for 53 per cent of all electricity generated in Japan by 2030 from about 30 per cent before the March 11 disaster.
With around 10 of the 25 panel members opposing nuclear power generation, opinions both for and against nuclear energy were presented during the panel meeting.
It differed from similar meetings in the past. A previous panel contained few opponents of nuclear energy, with the
ministry playing an important role in promoting nuclear power generation.
The panel, headed by Nippon Steel Corporation Chairman Akio Mimura, plans to compile a new energy plan by around next summer.
Edano asked panel members to promote discussions to sufficiently explore how the nation's energy policy should be, without being constrained by the current energy situation, saying, "Since the (Fukushima) accident, citizens' opinions and their trust on nuclear power have changed substantially."
Since the start of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant triggered by the March 11 earthquake and
tsunami, the government has shifted its stance to reducing the nation's reliance on nuclear power.
The panel experts differ on how quickly to reduce Japan's reliance on nuclear power, as well as ways to introduce renewable energy.
"(Japan) should not be dependent on nuclear power, and reduce it to zero as soon as possible," Hisa Anan, an official of the national liaison council of consumer groups (Shodanren), told the panel, referring to citizens' heightened concerns about nuclear safety.
Another panel member, Mitsui Co chairman Shoei Utsuda, called for calm discussions on nuclear power from a global standpoint, referring to ongoing nuclear power developments in China and other neighboring countries.
"I think it will be important for Japan to keep contributing to the world by improving nuclear technologies, from the standpoint of the nation's energy policy and its diplomatic strategy," Utsuda said.
Ryutaro Kono, chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities (Japan) Ltd, said there is a need to exit from nuclear power while taking measures to minimize negative impact of doing so on the economy.
