Just calling for the end of nuclear power is irresponsible
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Debates for the House of Councillors election kicked off before its official campaign period started yesterday. In Osaka, the Kansai Press Club hosted a meeting on politics with the secretaries general and their equivalents of nine ruling and opposition p
At the meeting, there were striking divergences in opinions on nuclear power. Asked if they aim to end the use of nuclear power generation, every attending party except the ruling Liberal Democratic Party replied yes.
To reduce Japan’s use of nuclear power to zero, the proportion of electricity generated by alternative sources must be increased drastically. This will require increased imports of fuel for thermal power plants, which will inevitably hollow out domestic industries due to higher production costs.
There also are concerns about the increased carbon dioxide emissions produced by thermal power plants. Japan will be tested on how to overcome global issues, including nuclear non-proliferation, if it chooses the zero nuclear power option.
Referring to those issues, LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba said, “A responsible party must not consider reducing the nation’s dependence on nuclear power without thinking about the balance of its power sources.” We think his view is reasonable.
The LDP stipulated in its election pledges that the state should take responsibility for trying to obtain the consent of local governments hosting nuclear plants, which have been judged safe, so they can be reactivated.
We applaud the LDP on this point, but the party should clarify its medium- to long-term nuclear policies. Details on specific steps to deal with nuclear fuel recycling and nuclear waste disposal also need to be discussed.
No party supporting the abolition of nuclear power gave a convincing explanation on the denuclearisation process. How can Japan, a nation with few natural resources, end its use of nuclear power? Parties supporting zero nuclear power must answer this question properly.
Goshi Hosono, secretary-general of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, criticised efforts led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to promote exports of Japanese nuclear reactors. “It makes me feel uncomfortable,” he said.
However, exports of infrastructure, including nuclear reactors, are a pillar of the government’s growth strategy and require partnership between the government and private sectors. What does the DPJ think about the high expectations other nations have for Japanese technology?
