Japan urgently in need of effective nuclear agency

However, this argument does not make sense.

Establishing the new agency is aimed at separating the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency from the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry--which promotes nuclear power--and reorganising related government entities by integrating safety agency functions into nuclear regulation-related departments of other government entities.

We believe both the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito must agree to deliberations as long as they have no objections to moving toward this goal.

The government intends to first set up the nuclear regulatory agency and then work out a specific plan on how to make the organisation as effective as possible. This is a realistic approach.

 

Plan would allow quick action

A focus of future discussions will be where the new agency will be positioned within the government.

Currently, the government plans to make the nuclear regulatory agency an external bureau under the Environment Ministry. In an emergency, the agency will function as the secretariat for the government's Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters, which is headed by the prime minister. The government explained that this structure is meant to enable quick policy decisions under the cabinet's authority.

The disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co, required a vast amount of collaboration among various organisations.

A good example of this was the spraying of water on the crippled nuclear reactors by the Self-Defense Forces and firefighters, at the government's request and direction. More simply put, the crisis clarified the importance of integrating government functions.

In opposition to the government's plan, some within the LDP and other parties are calling for establishing an almost completely independent organisation similar to the Fair Trade Commission.

They believe an organisation comprised of experts and granted more authority will be able to do away with political influence in both emergencies and normal times. By doing this, it will be possible to prevent confusion resulting from political intervention, such as that caused by former Prime Minister Naoto Kan's interference with those working on the reactors, they argue.

 

Can committees handle crises?

However, it is questionable whether a committee-style organisation would be able to closely work with the government in an emergency and flexibly cope with crises.

In the case of the Fukushima disaster, actions by Haruki Madarame, who chairs the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, which is comprised of experts, were sometimes questioned. We believe it necessary to carefully examine what type of organisation would be most appropriate.

Meanwhile, the bills on the new regulatory agency include clauses that call for the lifespan of nuclear reactors to be limited to 40 years, in principle. Although there also is a clause for an exceptional extension of up to 20 years, Goshi Hosono, state minister in charge of nuclear power policy, expressed his intention to not allow any exceptions.

However, there are no clear scientific grounds to comprehensively define the length of nuclear reactor operations by law.

If nuclear reactors operating longer than 40 years are forced to be shut down one after another, it may pose a serious threat to the nation's power supply. The government is advised to take into account discussions over mid- and long-term energy policies before making such a decision. Both the ruling and opposition parties need to spend sufficient time discussing this issue.