Wednesday, October 22, 2008

FY2008 Nuclear Energy Disaster Prevention Drill

The FY2008 Nuclear Energy Disaster Prevention Drill was conducted at the Prime Minister's Office.

The drill was based on a scenario in which a facility to provide water to the nuclear reactor at Unit No.3 of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant broke down, and subsequently, cooling functions for the reactor were lost due to breakdowns of the emergency cooling facilities for the reactor core, among others, causing the release of radioactive materials outside the plant. The exercise was conducted jointly by the national and local governments alongside related businesses, among others.

At the drill, Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, made a report on the accident and presented a proposal for public notification and instructions for a nuclear emergency situation. In response, Prime Minister Taro Aso issued a Declaration of a Nuclear Emergency Situation and instructed the relevant local governments to provide information to local residents.

Then, as part of the drill, a meeting of the Countermeasure Headquarters for Nuclear Disasters was convened with the purpose of addressing the situation. Prime Minister Aso, who served as the Chair of the Government Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "Securing the safety of local residents should be the top priority, and we must control the situation as early as possible. I will decide the government's basic policy based on reports that I am going to receive from relevant ministries and agencies concerning their measures." Thereafter, Prime Minister Aso held a video conference with the Chair of the Local Countermeasure Headquarters, with the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture, and with mayors of Okuma Town, Futaba Town, Tomioka Town, and Namie Town, and grasped the on-site situation. At the video conference, the Prime Minister quickly responded to requests for assistance and ordered the Local Countermeasure Headquarters to promptly take necessary steps.