This Week’s Update (April 22, 2013)
This Week’s Update － Error of Nuclear Regulatory Authority’s Policy
1) ”Goal of Nuclear Regulation is comprehensive risk reduction”. (English coming soon). Contribution by Prof. Koji Okamoto, the University of Tokyo. Among persons concerned in energy industry, there are increasing doubts to the activity of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA). They have not discussed with nuclear operator nor academic society, but requiring purchases of equipment and so on, while operation of nuclear power plant is being stopped. The situation is such that under the name of “safety”, they are designating active fault, and asking cancellation of nuclear plants. However, since this is damaging to Japanese economy and risks have not been comprehensively considered, it may neither be useful for securing safety. Prof. Okamoto shows concerns that NRA’s policy is deviating from its “aim” of increasing safety and yielding a profit to the nation.
2) ”Temperature Changed History – Lessons for climate change policy from the past adaptation efforts” (in Japanese), by Takaaki Ishii, an environmental journalist. Many people have indicated that global warming has advanced in the past few decades. However, looking back upon history, temperature has changed up and down. Moreover, humanity has been tossed about by and have adapted to it. He looks back upon it through pictures.
3) “Ineffectiveness of the PV subsidizing policy considered from Methane Hydrate” (in Japanese). A column form IEEI, by Hiroshi Kubota Professor emeritus at Tokyo Institute of Technology. In Japanese waters, investigation of the methane hydrate or methane ice is progressing. From all the information known at present, considering from efficiency of energy, methane hydrate is promising. Prof. Kubota points out that there is further less reason continuing mainly subsidy oriented poor photovoltaic policy.
This Week’s Links
1) “3 reasons Japanese electric power system should be creatively destructed” (1 and 2 in Japanese) from Diamond online by Motoshige Ito, professor at the University of Tokyo graduate school. He argues separation of electrical power production from power distribution and transmission should be promoted, considering three points: approval of past developing country-like monopoly; current defect of the supply system found at nuclear accident; and creation of future industry. Naturally, different opinions are expected. GEPR will take up electricity liberalization from various viewpoints.
2) “U.S. attitude in nuclear negotiation contrary courtesy to an ally” (in Japanese) an article by the Choson Ilbo, Japanese edition, April 19, 2013. With Japan-U.S Atomic Agreement, it is confirmed that Japan can reuse nuclear fuel and employ and perform research and development etc with independency. Although South Korea had asked for “same treatment as Japan”, the U.S. is negative in re-revision negotiation. It is likely because there are problems such as tension in the Korean Peninsula.
