TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mr. Akihiro Sawa, Japan's leading policy analyst, issued a proposal. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining and improving Japan's nuclear power technologies for its future energy policies while there is a storm of controversy on discontinuing nuclear power generation after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.
| There is now much debate in Japan on discontinuing nuclear power generation. Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, many people, from the prime minister to ordinary citizens, have tended to be emotionally persuaded by the idea of ceasing nuclear power. Future discussions on Japan's revision of national energy policies will no doubt be swayed by one-sided public calls for stopping nuclear power, but at a critical moment like this, realistic policy options must be proposed toward cool-headed and rational discussions. |
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I believe that Japan must "maintain and improve its nuclear power technologies", and propose ways that Japan can achieve this. Although discussions at present seem to ignore this topic, to "maintain and improve nuclear power technologies" is absolutely necessary, even if the government later decides to discontinue nuclear power generation entirely. Rather, it is no exaggeration to say that such technologies are essential for proceeding with such a policy. |
| The reasons why now I believe it is important for Japan to maintain and improve its nuclear power technologies are as follows. |
| Firstly, if certain technologies have lacked sufficient R&D due to difficulties in frankly acknowledging the presence of potential risks, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident has broken this taboo. |
| Secondly, Japan needs to ensure the safe operation of existing nuclear power plants, as many of them will remain in service for the present even if the government officially decides to reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear power. |
| Thirdly, nuclear power generation will certainly spread in the world as emerging countries start up and accelerate nuclear power projects. Japan should contribute to nuclear safety by transferring its nuclear power technologies after incorporating technological/operational lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident, to the rest of the world. |
There will be continued calls for atonement for the nuclear accident and condemnation of nuclear power technologies as unacceptable. However, nuclear power plants exist in reality and spent fuel is already being reprocessed. Therefore, we must clearly understand that condemning or sealing nuclear power technologies could actually threaten safety.
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The 21st Century Public Policy Institute: http://www.21ppi.org/english/index.html |
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International Environment and Economy Institute (NPO): http://ieei.or.jp/ |
| (Source) |
| Monthly Shincho 45, October Issue (First appearance) |
| *The entire original text is available on Monthly Shincho 45, October Issue |
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