Stress tests
July 6, 2011
When a magnitude 9 earthquake and a 15-meter high tsunami crippled Tokyo Electric Power Co’s Fukushima Daiichi facility in northeastern Japan, the government ordered a series of initial tests on all the other atomic plants in the quake-prone country.
On Wednesday, a set of new stress tests, aimed at reassuring the Japanese public, were announced for the very near future.
"I have given instructions to consider ways to further boost assurance about nuclear power plants generally, by making evaluation through something similar to stress tests being conducted in Europe," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told parliament on Wednesday.
"The safety of nuclear power plants has been secured, but this is to gain a further sense of security among the people," said Trade, Economy and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda on Wednesday, according to the Jiji Press news agency.
Checking for the unthinkable
The idea in Europe is to examine whether nuclear facilities are in a position to withstand extreme and multiple disasters that were previously considered unthinkable. The EU, where there are 143 nuclear plants, will be checking for natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tornadoes, as well as man-made catastrophes such as explosions, plane crashes or terrorist attacks, as well as a combination of such events.
Currently only 19 of Japan's 54 reactors are in operation. More are expected to be shut down for checks during the summer. Companies and households are being encouraged to save energy as Tokyo is worried there could be power shortage when demand peaks in the summer. Big power users have been warned that they should cut their peak use of power by 15 percent compared with last year.
Two reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co's 36-year-old plant in the town of Genkai have now completed regular maintenance and could soon be restarted if the governor of Saga prefecture approves.
Until March, nuclear power accounted for a third of Japan's electricity needs.
Extended parliamentary session
Japan's current parliamentary session has been extended until August to discuss how to proceed with dealing with the nuclear disaster, as well as how to rebuild the quake-hit region and draw up a framework.
Meanwhile, Ryu Matsumoto, who resigned on Tuesday after barely a week in office as Japan's reconstruction minister because of what some perceived to be offensive remarks during a trip to the devastated northern region that was most hit by the tsunami, has cited an unusual reason for his recent behavior.
"My blood's type B, which means I can be irritable and impetuous, and my intentions do not always come across," he said.
Some Japanese have been fascinated with blood types since the early 20th century but on Wednesday this was not considered an acceptable or plausible explanation for Ryu Matsumoto's comments that the government would not help communities which failed to come up with their own ideas.
Anne Thomas (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Sarah Berning