Japan to seek to scale back on nuclear power in new energy strategy

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Japanese government decided Friday to draw up a scenario for reducing the country’s reliance on nuclear power in its energy strategy to be worked out next year following the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, but recognized the need to use atomic reactors to deal with imminent electricity shortage problems.

The government also unveiled a set of near-term measures to tackle the power crunch that has emerged as a result of the crisis, showing an estimate that the country’s power supply capacity could be about 9.2 percent short of peak demand next summer if no reactors are in operation by that time.

Japan is reviewing its earlier policy to promote atomic energy as the nuclear crisis, triggered in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, has raised serious doubts among the public about the safety of nuclear reactors.

The government plans to compile a basic policy of its energy strategy by the end of the year, and the strategy itself next year, based on an outline of its energy policy decided Friday. But the outline did not touch on whether Japan should seek to become a society that does not depend on nuclear energy, as stated by Prime Minister Naoto Kan as his « personal view. »

« As for the reduction of the ratio of the country’s reliance on nuclear power plants, we should decide how we should act by deepening public discussions, » a government paper said.

It also said that « nuclear power plants that have been confirmed as safe should be used » in the meantime as power supply and demand are unstable.

Kan told a press conference later Friday, « Based on today’s decisions, we would further engage in discussions (on energy matters)... The government will push for the reduction of nuclear reliance systematically and in stages. »

In addition to fears of power shortages, the government also said there is a risk that the country’s electricity generation costs may rise by more than 3 trillion yen if all nuclear power were replaced by thermal power using oil or liquefied natural gas.

To keep the imminent power supply crunch and rise in electricity bills to a minimum, the government said it plans to promote the introduction of energy-efficient products such as light-emitting diodes and to intensively deploy in the next five years « smart meters » that help control electricity consumption.

The spread of smart meters would help achieve more swiftly a « smart grid » next-generation power delivery network, which is also expected to make much greater use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the paper said.

The government also encouraged the separation of electricity generation and transmission to create a competitive environment in the country’s electricity businesses.

Japan’s basic energy plan endorsed in June 2010 sought to increase the ratio of the country’s reliance on nuclear energy to 53 percent by 2030, but Kan said earlier that the government had no choice but to scrap that plan in the wake of the Fukushima crisis.

The envisioned new energy strategy will be considered through three time frames — short term covering the next three years, the medium term to 2020, and the long term between 2020 and 2030 or between 2020 and 2050.

Kyodo, July 30, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/07/30/20110730p2g00m0dm012000c.html

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 120,000 tons of ’radioactive’ waste in storage

At least 120,000 tons of sludge and ash either confirmed or suspected to have been contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has been put into storage at water treatment and sewage plants in Tokyo and 13 eastern prefectures, it has been learned.

Municipalities concerned have called on the central government to find locations where the contaminated sludge and ash can be treated or safely disposed of.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Thursday released the results of a survey on dehydrated sludge being stored at water treatment plants in Tokyo and 13 other prefectures, including Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima and Shizuoka, as of July 12.

Data on dehydrated sludge and ash stored at sewage plants as of Wednesday was supplied by local governments in the 14 prefectures and tallied by The Yomiuri Shimbun. The ash was produced by incinerating mud.

Under guidelines for handling radiation-contaminated material announced by the central government on June 16 :

— Material contaminated with radioactive cesium of more than 100,000 becquerels per kilogram should be stored in shielded facilities.

— Material with cesium levels of 8,000 to 100,000 becquerels per kilogram should be sent to plants designed to handle treatment of industrial waste.

— Material with cesium levels below 8,000 becquerels per kilogram can be buried.

Water treatment facilities in 11 of the 14 prefectures—Tokyo and Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures being the exceptions—have found a total of about 37,290 tons of stored dehydrated sludge to be radioactive, according to the ministry.

About 54,630 additional tons of stored sludge and ash have yet to be tested for radiation.

None of the sludge was found to have radiation levels exceeding 100,000 becquerels per kilogram, but 1,557 tons of mud with cesium levels of between 8,000 and 100,000 becquerels per kilogram remained untreated in five prefectures, including Fukushima, Miyagi and Niigata. Radiation in the remaining sludge was below 8,000 becquerels per kilogram.

The municipalities concerned have been unable to find anywhere to dispose of the sludge, or treat it so it can be safely reused.

Meanwhile, sewage plants in 12 prefectures had about 19,050 tons of dehydrated sludge and about 11,400 tons of ash and other substances. Fukushima Prefecture had the largest amount, with about 9,540 tons.

Some facilities said their storage spaces would be filled with sludge and ash within a few months.

Radioactive cesium was detected in the waste at levels as high as 446,000 becquerels per kilogram. Levels of more than 100,000 becquerels per kilogram were found only in waste stored in Fukushima Prefecture, but levels between 10,000 and 40,000 becquerels per kilogram were detected in ash in the northern Kanto region.

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan are working on a lawmaker-sponsored bill for a law that will allow the state to take the initiative in treating radioactive sludge and other contaminated materials, according to sources.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30, 2011
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110729006250.htm

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 11 prefectures decide to test all beef cattle for radiation ; expected to cost 4 billion yen

Eleven prefectures have decided as of July 27 to test all beef cattle for radiation contamination after radioactive cesium above the allowable level set by the central government was detected in cattle in some prefectures, and total costs for the measures are expected to reach around 4 billion yen, the Mainichi learned.

The 11 prefectures include Yamagata and Shizuoka, which have already started to test beef cattle for radiation contamination. The central government is reluctant to conduct such tests on all beef cattle across the country except for some parts of Fukushima Prefecture, but eight other prefectures are considering testing all beef cows. A heated debate is likely to emerge on who should shoulder the costs for radiation tests.

Japan first started to test all beef cattle in 2001 after several cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as « mad-cow disease, » were discovered in the country. The tests helped restore consumer confidence in beef. But cesium tests are more complex than those for BSE, and there are only a limited number of measuring instruments.

Although tests on all beef cattle are being conducted mainly by prefectural governments, local chapters of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) in Tochigi and Shizuoka prefectures are conducting such tests on beef cattle kept by member farmers. The cost of testing one beef cow amounts to about 20,000 yen. The number of beef cows that are subject to such tests is at least about 190,000, and if all of them were to be tested, it would cost about 4 billion yen.

The costs will be paid temporarily by prefectural governments and cattle farmers. But the Miyagi Prefectural Government, which announced on July 27 that it would start testing on Aug. 1, made clear that it would seek damages from Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO). JA offices in Yamagata and Tochigi say they will follow suit. Niigata Gov. Hirohiko Izumida said, « We would like to deal with it after thinking of who should essentially pay for the tests. »

In the meantime, some of the eight prefectures including Aomori, Osaka and Kagoshima, which are considering testing all beef cattle for radiation contamination, are worried about the possibility of the measures restricting shipments because they cannot secure testing systems fast enough. An official of the cattle promotion department at the Hokkaido Prefectural Government said, « There are only two measuring instruments available and it takes three to four hours to test one beef cow. Considering the number of beef cows to be shipped, it is difficult to test all beef cattle. » Eikei Suzuki, governor of Mie Prefecture, known for its « Matsusaka beef » brand, one of the top brands in Japan, said, « We want to make a final decision by the end of this month. »

The central government decided on July 27 to order the suspension of all shipments of beef cattle from Miyagi Prefecture under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness. The government has been discussing with the Miyagi Prefectural Government about inspection systems and criteria for lifting the order. The government is set to give the instruction to Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai as early as July 28. Miyagi will be the second prefecture to ban all shipments of beef cattle after Fukushima. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and other groups, 1,031 beef cows were shipped from Miyagi Prefecture after being fed rice straw contaminated with radioactive cesium.

Mainichi Shimbun, July 28, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2011/07/28/20110728p2a00m0na016000c.html

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 Research shows Shika atomic plant may sit on active quake fault

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Governmental research has suggested a strong possibility that a fault beneath Hokuriku Electric Power Co.’s Shika Nuclear Power Station may be active, raising questions about the utility’s claim in the late 1990s that it is inactive, sources familiar with the research said Monday.

Government regulations do not allow construction of a nuclear reactor above an active quake fault. If it is confirmed active, the Shika power station may be labeled as sitting on premises ineligible for a nuclear power plant.

The research by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency shows the fault — technically named S-1, which runs southeast to northwest within the premises — moved sometime after 130,000 to 120,000 years ago, the sources said.

Hokuriku Electric Power conducted excavation surveys when it applied for building a second reactor for the plant in 1997 and, based on it, said the fault « does not indicate activity. »

In a review of fault lines after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, NISA went through excavation data presented by Hokuriku Electric and came to a conclusion that the research suggests a strong possibility that S-1 may have been active in a relatively recent period.

Geological layers comprised not just bedrock from ancient periods but sand and pebbles from a period dating back to 130,000 to 120,000 years and they were deformed, according to the sources.

It remains unknown at this point if S-1 generates a quake on its own or shakes ground in association with nearby active faults. Given that another fault lies beneath the No. 2 reactor, if the two faults jolt at the same time, it could throw the plant into danger.

Mitsuhisa Watanabe, a geomorphology professor at Toyo University, said, « I must say Hokuriku Electric is making a far-fetched assessment in saying that geological layers of 130,000 to 120,000 years have not been morphed. »

Watanabe said the fault is suspected of having been active in a later period.

Research and surveys by NISA have suggested that a soft fault layer, called a crushed zone, could move at Japan Atomic Power Co.’s Tsuruga Nuclear Power Station in Fukui Prefecture, raising the possibility that the plant may have to be shut down.

Citizens are also calling for research into Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear power plant relating to a similar soft fault layer.

Kyodo Press, July 17, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120717p2g00m0dm042000c.html

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 Oi nuclear plant’s No. 4 reactor begins generating power

TSURUGA, Japan (Kyodo) — The No. 4 reactor at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture started generating and transmitting electricity Saturday, its operator Kansai Electric Power Co. said.

Power transmission from the 1.18-million-kilowatt reactor will cover the Kansai area in western Japan and part of Fukui Prefecture along the Sea of Japan, the operator said, adding the reactor is expected to start full-capacity generation next Wednesday after gradually raising power output.

The reactor is the second to go back online after all of Japan’s commercial reactors were taken offline for regular checks in the wake of the March 2011 nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi plant in northeastern Japan. The first to resume operation was the Oi plant’s No. 3 reactor which was brought to full operation on July 9.

When the No. 4 reactor begins full operation, the government will remove power-saving targets for Chubu Electric Power Co., Hokuriku Electric Power Co. and Chugoku Electric Power Co., while further easing the target for Shikoku Electric Power Co. from 7 percent to 5 percent. It is considering maintaining the 10 percent target — recently reduced from 15 percent — for Kansai Electric.

The No. 4 reactor was booted up Wednesday night and the following morning reached criticality — the state at which a chain reaction of nuclear fissions becomes self-sustaining. Its operations were idled July 22 last year for a periodic checkup.

Kyodo Press, July 21, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120721p2g00m0dm018000c.html

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Japan nuclear reactor resumes full operation, 1st since 2011 crisis

FUKUI, Japan (Kyodo) — A nuclear reactor in western Japan began generating electricity at capacity Monday, becoming the first of the country’s 50 commercial reactors to return to full service after all were taken offline in May in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis, its operator said.

The No. 3 reactor at the Oi plant on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture started capacity generation at 1 a.m. as planned, Kansai Electric Power Co. said.

After confirming that the reactor is running at capacity, the government said it will lower its power-saving target for the utility’s service area, mainly in the Kansai region centering on Osaka, for this summer to 10 percent from the initially imposed 15 percent.

With the full operation of the reactor, the area’s projected power shortfall will decline to 9.2 percent from the initially estimated 14.9 percent.

The reaction of the public was divided.

« We are relieved that the prospect of a rolling blackout has receded. We hope for steady power supply so that tourists will come to Kansai » without any concerns about electricity shortages, said an official with the Kyoto branch of the Japan Hotel Association.

Yoshitake Kimura, head of a local commerce chamber, said, « Nuclear power is an important pillar of industry that has supported our town. Our life will go back to normal when the No. 4 reactor is reactivated. »

Kensaku Miyamoto, a livestock farmer who is an opponent of the restart, said, « No evacuation plans, levees or vent filters have been set in place...Anxiety felt by the local people has not been taken into consideration at all. »

« Kansai Electric has restarted the reactor without sufficiently proving its safety as it prioritized corporate interests, » said Kiyoko Shimada, a leader of an anti-nuclear local civic group. « Kansai Electric has never changed its way, even after the Great East Japan Earthquake. »

The 1.18 million kilowatt reactor was restarted July 1 after being halted in March last year for periodic checks.

The utility is also preparing to restart the plant’s No. 4 reactor with an eye to bringing it to full output on or after July 25, it added.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said « I fully understand Japanese people have mixed feelings. But we have decided it’s necessary to restart the Oi reactors after checking their safety. We have to give a full explanation about this (to the people). »

Kansai Electric Power President Makoto Yagi said in a comment released Monday, « We will make continuous efforts to operate the No. 3 unit safely, and carefully proceed with the reactivation of the No. 4 reactor, giving priority to safety. »

The utility began operating the No. 3 unit of the Oi plant at capacity after recovering from a fall in output Sunday due to the presence of jellyfish near its cooling water intake.

Upon the full operation of the No. 3 reactor, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the government will lower the targeted power consumption reduction in the Kansai region to 10 percent from 15 percent as compared with the summer 2010 level. The target consumption cut for the Chubu and Hokuriku regions in central Japan will be cut by 1 point to 4 percent. The target will decline by 2 points to 3 percent in Chugoku region in western Japan.

Following the full operation of the No. 4 reactor, the target figure will be scrapped for Hokuriku, Chubu and Chugoku while dropping 2 points to 5 percent on Shikoku Island. The target will likely remain at 10 percent for Kansai, Fujimura said.

The targeted rate of power use reduction will stay at 7 percent for Hokkaido and at 10 percent for Kyushu in southwestern Japan.

Kyodo Press, July 09, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120709p2g00m0dm020000c.html

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Reactor to be rebooted, 1st after checkups since Fukushima accident

FUKUI (Kyodo) — A reactor at the Oi nuclear power plant in western Japan will become late Sunday the first in the country to be reactivated after regular checkups since last year’s Fukushima nuclear crisis, bringing an end to the situation since early May in which Japan has had no operating reactors and easing power constraints.

Kansai Electric Power Co. said it plans to pull out control rods that have contained fission reactions from 9 p.m. at the No. 3 reactor of the plant in Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. It aims to attain a sustained nuclear fission chain reaction, known as criticality, early Monday, begin power transmission Wednesday, and bring it to full operation possibly July 8.

Although a growing group of protestors has blocked a road leading to the plant since Saturday, preventing workers’ access, the utility serving western Japan expects there will be no impact on Sunday’s work as it has already secured enough workers for the job, officials said.

Once the 1.18 million kilowatt reactor runs at full capacity, the utility will likely see its projected power shortage in its service area fall to 9.2 percent from 14.9 percent this summer.

Following government approval June 16, it is also preparing to reboot the plant’s No. 4 reactor to put it back into full service possibly in late July.

Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Seishu Makino is set to witness Sunday’s work as part of the government’s efforts to enhance monitoring of the plant’s resumption amid lingering public concerns about nuclear safety in the wake of the meltdowns of three reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi plant in northeastern Japan.

A series of minor troubles has haunted preparations to restart the plant, however, with alarms activated at such locations as a place where the plant receives external power supply and equipment used to monitor power transmission lines.

Kyodo Press, July 01, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120701p2g00m0dm015000c.html

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Oi nuclear power plant reactor to be reactivated July 1

TOKYO (Kyodo) — One of the two reactors slated to be fired up again at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear power station is expected to be restarted on July 1, utility officials said Monday.

Work to restart the No. 3 reactor at the Oi plant in Fukui Prefecture has been largely progressing well, said officials, noting rods used to control nuclear fission reactions will be pulled from the reactor core sometime during the evening to late night on July 1.

The operator suggested earlier it would reactivate the No. 3 unit between July 1 and 3.

In a related development, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency suggested it will not immediately disclose incidents involving some alarm activations at the seaside power plant, following several recent incidents when alarms sounded, indicating abnormalities with equipment used to monitor power transmission lines.

« Similar alarm activations have occurred about 200 times a year, » said Yoshinori Moriyama, an agency official in charge of nuclear disaster countermeasures, at a news conference.

After reporters protested the move, asking for prompt disclosure, Moriyama later said he would consult with the press over the matter.

The Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Oi plant will be reactivated to help alleviate potential summertime power shortages in areas served by the Osaka-based utility, amid lingering public concerns over nuclear safety following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant triggered by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Kyodo Press, June 26, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120626p2g00m0dm027000c.html

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 Fukui Pref. wants central gov’t to keep nuclear plants

FUKUI (Kyodo) — The Fukui prefectural government called on the central government Saturday to continue to treat nuclear power as an indispensable source of electricity when deciding on the nation’s future energy policy in the wake of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant disaster.

The western Japan prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast made the call in a package of recommendations to the state ahead of requests to be made by central government ministries and agencies in the summer for their budgets for fiscal 2013 starting next April 1.

’’It is necessary for the state to be responsible in maintaining the vitality of areas hosting (nuclear power plants) that have contributed to the nation’s energy policy and supported the Japanese economy,’’ Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa wrote at the beginning of the recommendations.

Fukui also sought increased subsidies to the prefecture to help ease its burdens as a nuclear plant host and prop up the local economy. Fukui hosts 14 reactors, the most among the nation’s 47 prefectures.

Kyodo Press, July 08, 2012
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120708p2g00m0dm003000c.html

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