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Japan
turns off nuclear reactor
Japan,
for the time being, is free of atomic energy after switching off a
nuclear reactor on Sunday for refuelling and maintenance
16
September, 2013
Other
plants in the Asian nation remained closed for intensified safety
checks following the 2011 meltdowns at the tsunami-stricken plant in
Fukushima.
But
despite signs that the Fukushima crisis was worsening, Japan's
commitment to restarting many of its 50 idled reactors appeared
stronger than ever, a year after a previous government said it would
begin to phase out nuclear power completely.
Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe, who took office in December, said nuclear power
remained essential, even with a surge in generation capacity from
solar, wind and other renewable sources, and that the world's number
three economy couldn't afford the mounting costs from importing gas
and oil.
Four
nuclear plant operators have applied to restart a dozen reactors
under revised safety guidelines, though the pace would be relatively
slow, with the first expected to come online early next year at the
earliest. Inspections took about six months for each reactor, and
obtaining consent from local governments would also take time.
Only
two reactors had been operating in Japan since July 2012, both at Ohi
in the western prefecture of Fukui. The No 3 reactor was shut down
for maintenance on September 2, and the No 4 reactor was taken
offline late Sunday night (local time) and came to a full stop in the
early hours of Monday, according to their operator, Kansai Electric
Power Co. They were among the dozen that have applied to restart.
The
disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, the worst atomic accident
since the 1986 Chernobyl explosion, prompted a rethink of plans to
raise nuclear capacity from one-third to over half of total demand.
Even
with little to no nuclear power, Japan has managed to avoid power
rationing and blackouts. Industries have moved aggressively to avoid
disruptions by installing backup generators and shifting to new
sources, such as solar power. Recent disclosures that the Fukushima
plant was still leaking radiation and struggling to handle
contaminated water used to cool its reactors have raised alarms over
whether the situation was as fully under control as Abe said.
Still,
the government appeared certain to scuttle the commitment to end the
use of nuclear power gradually that was made a year ago under a
different administration.
While
surveys indicated the public remained opposed to nuclear power, the
demonstrations by hundreds of thousands after the Fukushima disaster
have diminished, perhaps sapped by the pain to the pocketbooks of
Tokyo households now paying 30 per cent more for electricity than
before, with more rate hikes to come.
The
issue was cost, and to a lesser extent, concern over a resurgence in
climate-changing carbon emissions due to increased use of coal and
oil to generate power.
Clean
energy still accounted for only 10 per cent of total consumption -
most of it hydropower. Much of the new capacity approved had yet to
come online.
Reliance
on imported oil and gas had surged from about 60 per cent of energy
consumption to about 85 per cent. Japan posted a trade deficit in
2011 for the first time in 31 years, and another deficit of ¥8.2
trillion (NZ$99b) in 2012.
About
half of the increase stemmed from rising fuel costs, according to the
trade minister, Toshimitsu Motegi.
The
recent weakening of the yen had added to the burden on the economy
from oil and gas imports.
Abe
and others in favour of resuming nuclear power contended that
renewable energy was too expensive and unreliable - wind doesn't
always blow, the Sun doesn't always shine.
Apart
from those issues, national security required that Japan retain some
self-sufficiency, and the only way to do that was by relying at least
in the near term on nuclear energy, said Masamichi Adachi, an
economist at JPMorgan in Tokyo.
While
Japan's suppliers of uranium tended to be stable industrial nations,
most of its oil came from the volatile Middle East.
But
the reasons for keeping the nuclear industry afloat extended beyond
the imperatives of trade balances and balance sheets.
Having
invested trillions of yen in nuclear plants and technology it was
counting on selling to a burgeoning global industry, many of Japan's
business and political leaders appear reluctant to give it up.
Local
communities were divided: Many have relied heavily on nuclear plants
for jobs and tax revenues, but worry over potential risks.
Still,
Abe has pledged to pursue renewable energy and backed reforms that
would separate power generation and distribution, aimed at getting
utilities to retool their electricity grids so they can absorb solar
and wind power generated by households, companies and other
independent sources.
Other
initiatives included improving the efficiency of thermal power
plants, installing computerised ''smart meters,'' using more
energy-efficient construction materials and design and expanding the
use of energy-efficient LED lighting.
Over
a year ago, the government set a new, higher feed-in tariff for
renewable energy, and companies were investing heavily in wind and
solar power, transforming defunct golf courses into solar farms and
building offshore wind turbines.
Such
companies included phone carrier Softbank, trading houses Mitsui &
Co. and Marubeni Corp., Toyota Motor Corp.'s Toyota Turbine and
Systems Inc. and Oji Paper, among others. Since April 2012, Japan has
increased its generation capacity from renewable sources by 15 per
cent to about 3.4 million kilowatts.
''Over
the last two years, there's been a realisation among the big players
- Toyota, Hitachi, shipbuilders - that there's a huge opportunity in
power,'' said Andrew DeWit, a professor at Rikkyo University in
Tokyo.
''We're
also seeing radical efficiency gains.''
Even
if Japan's nuclear plants were allowed to restart, many would soon
reach their 40-year operating limits, raising the issue of whether
and how they will be replaced. Meanwhile, the disposal and security
of nuclear waste were issues yet to be resolved.
For
now, however, it appeared any phase-out of nuclear power would be
very gradual.
''In
the long term if we can create new resources that are more efficient
than the current oil-based system, then we can rely less on nuclear
power, that's quite possible,'' Adachi said.
''But
it will take quite a long time.''
Other
Japanese news (from Rice Farmer)
Giant
mall is already dead (gallery)
You
thought ghost malls only existed in China? Take a look at this! -- RF
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