Advisor to PM Kan: Japan should nationalize all nuclear power plants

[kristopher]

Interview with Tadashi Maeda: Japan should nationalize all nuclear power plants
BY NAOYUKI FUKUDA STAFF WRITER

2011/06/25


Tadashi Maeda, an adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, has proposed the nationalization of all nuclear power plants in Japan as a means to secure the long-term viability of atomic energy.

Maeda, chief of the Corporate Planning Department of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, said during a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun that the risk of a disastrous nuclear accident resulting in a tremendous amount of monetary compensation argues for the nationalization of nuclear power generation.

The government may discuss his proposal as part of the debate on the issue of compensation for victims of the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.

If a state-run operator of nuclear power plants takes over the responsibility for the compensation for the accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, TEPCO may be able to avoid raising electricity rates.

Some lawmakers in both ruling and opposition...

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201106240334.html

[CanonRay]

1. Yeah, let's put the liability on the taxpayer instead of the corporation

just like at home!

[kristopher]

2. The question is "does nationalizing enhance safety?" or "does the profit motive enhance safety?"

This is MIT discussing it in "The Future of Nuclear Power"

A number of events have occurred at reactors that were headed for an accident but stopped short. Such an event6 came to light during an inspection of the Davis-Besse reactor vessel head in March, 2002, during reactor shutdown. The inspection disclosed a large cavity in the vessel head next to one of the reactor control rod drive mechanisms, caused by boric acid leakage and corrosion. The cavity seriously jeopardized reactor vessel integrity. Fortunately, the fault was discovered before restart of the reactor. This event discloses a failure on the part of the plant owners to respond to earlier indications of an issue and to look for problems in an early stage at their plant. It is still an open question whether the average performers in the industry have yet incorporated an effective safety culture into their conduct of business. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission shares responsibility in the matter, as it accepted delay of scheduled surveillance and inspection of vital primary system components. A major nuclear power initiative will not gain public confidence, if such failures occur.

With regard to the mandate of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for safety of nuclear plants in the U. S., the Davis-Besse incident also raises questions about whether nuclear reactor safety goals are compatible with the transition to competitive electricity markets. On the one hand some observers suggest that unregulated generators will be more concerned with maximizing plant output and less willing to close plants for safety inspections and corrective actions where necessary. On the other hand, owners groups have long stated that nuclear plant operation conducted to ensure a high level of safety is also economically beneficial. Further, nuclear plant accident costs are not financially attractive for plant owners. While there may be some accident costs that are not fully internalized into decisions made by individual nuclear plant owners, the owner of a plant that has a serious accident would face very significant adverse financial consequences, as was the case of General Public Utilities after the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2. We believe it is important to maintain the principle that the primary responsibility for safe operation of nuclear plants rests with the plant owners and operators, as the generation segment of the electric power industry is deregulated, and that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should adapt its inspection activities, reporting requirements, and enforcement actions to reflect the new incentives created by competitive generation markets. p. 47 - 48

I'll let that stand without comment. But it helps to see the pictures of what they are referring to:




http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh285/taos-eddy/Energy/Davis%20Besse%20Photos/

[kristopher]

3. Yamaguchi Governor suspends nuclear plant project

Yamaguchi Governor suspends nuclear plant project

The governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan says he won't extend a permit for a land reclamation project to build a nuclear power plant. This, in effect, means the power plant project will not go ahead.

Sekinari Nii made the remark at the prefectural assembly on Monday, referring to the planned construction of the Kaminoseki plant on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea.

Chugoku Electric Power Company was seeking to construct the plant in the town of Kaminoseki, with its launch scheduled for 2018.

However, a land reclamation project in preparation for the construction has been suspended ever since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was hit by an accident in March.

The current license...

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/27_17.html

[kristopher]

4. Kan hints at playing nuclear energy card

Kan hints at playing nuclear energy card

By NATSUKO FUKUE
Staff writer

Whether to promote nuclear power will be the most crucial issue in the next national election, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Tuesday, rekindling speculation that he may want to dissolve the Lower House over energy policy.

Kan made the comment during a meeting of Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers, many of whom were sharply critical of his changes to the Cabinet lineup on Monday.

Many DPJ members now suspect that Kan may be trying to remain in power as long as possible, and that he could dissolve the Lower House for a snap election to appeal to voters who have started calling for use of non-nuclear power in the face of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

"Which direction we will take in energy policy will be the biggest issue in the next national election," Kan told DPJ lawmakers from both chambers of the Diet.

"I hope we can ...

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110629a4.html