Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Q&As

REPORTER: Yesterday in his press conference, the Prime Minister talked about moving away from dependence on nuclear power, although he did not clearly specify how this would be implemented. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that the Prime Minister's comments set out a direction for reducing dependence on nuclear power in a gradual manner and the objectives thereafter, and this is something that in a certain sense he has been pointing out from before. In addition, specific considerations on short, medium and long-term measures towards achieving that objective are already being implemented, including in the Energy and Environment Council. Naturally, while the Government will take responsibility for issuing specific and detailed interim response measures towards this objective, as the Prime Minister himself stated it will be important to develop public discussion on this matter, in addition to the direction to be set out by Government. My understanding is that in his comments yesterday the Prime Minister intended to set out a starting point for that policy direction.

REPORTER: This morning in the Economic and Industrial Sector Meeting of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Prime Minister indicated his recognition that even without the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations it will be possible to provide electrical power during peak demand times in the summer. A number of people have criticized these remarks as being contrary to the Government's initial response, and increasing numbers of people within the DPJ have also expressed bemusement and criticism. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, I should point out that the comments made yesterday by the Prime Minister, at the very least with regard to reducing dependence on nuclear power, is one of the directions that has been set out from before, and this is a view that has been shared not merely within the DPJ. Therefore, with regard to discussions on the way to proceed from now, the Prime Minister has set out the reduction of dependence on nuclear power as one objective, but as this is something that will certainly require discussion at the national level about how to proceed, I believe that it is actually preferable that there are a number of different discussions and opinions being expressed, including within the DPJ. As for power supply during the summer months, various people are making efforts to cooperate and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is already examining specific and detailed outlooks. The general line is that thanks to cooperative efforts by all concerned we will be able to overcome power supply issues during the summer months, and that view is more-or-less finalized within METI. Currently efforts are being expedited to engage in detailed examination of the statistics and data, in order that the Government can provide a specific explanation on the power supply outlook.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister also stated in his press conference yesterday that these efforts to examine the statistics and data are being expedited with a view to providing an explanation on the supply outlook, but do you have any idea when such an explanation will be released?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is not something about which a political decision can be made as it requires careful examination of concrete figures and data. Therefore, the matter is not one where a political statement can be made about a deadline for when an explanation will be provided. From the reports that I have received, I understand that it will not take several weeks.

REPORTER: I understand that the Prime Minister has set out one objective for energy policy and seeks to develop national debate on the issue. However, this is a statement from a Prime Minister who has expressed his intention to resign, and therefore doubts have been expressed from various quarters, including from opposition parties. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that it is perhaps only natural for there to be various opinions and criticisms in response to the comments made by the Prime Minister yesterday. However, at the same time, following the nuclear incident on March 11, we experienced at close quarters a situation in which it was not known just how far the impact of the incident would reach. Therefore, based on this experience, I believe that the Prime Minister feels that the Government has a responsibility, regardless of the political situation, to show a direction for the national debate on this issue and encourage the debate and I share the same views as the Prime Minister in this regard.

REPORTER: In relation to this direction, therefore, the Prime Minister has announced "abandoning nuclear power dependence (datsu-genpatsu)." However, to date the Government has promoted the export of nuclear power technologies and other measures, so does this statement by the Prime Minister also imply a change to such long-term strategies in the future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am sorry to have to correct you but the Prime Minister did not say "abandoning nuclear power dependence." What he actually said was that dependence on nuclear power should be reduced in a gradual manner, followed by which it would be preferable to have a society without nuclear power. This was the nuance of his statement as I understand it and he did not refer directly to "abandoning nuclear power dependence." For example, with regard to the issue of export of nuclear power generation technologies, when I watched members of the opposition parties on NHK's "Sunday Debate" the other day, it was clear that the parties are more-or-less in consensus about the current direction of discussions and the reduction of Japan's dependence on nuclear power. Given this situation, very serious thought must be given to the ways in which we can position the issue and move it forward. We may reduce our dependence on nuclear power in a gradual manner, but the reverse side to this is that we will be operating nuclear power under a stricter safety regime following the incident. Therefore, as the country that has had this experience, for the foreseeable future we will be operating nuclear power stations under stricter safety regulations than any other country. It will therefore be necessary to give consideration in the medium term on how countries seeking to import our nuclear generation technologies will view this high priority on safety. The Government's environment and energy strategies are under the guidance of Minister for National Policy Gemba, who has jurisdiction over growth policy as a whole. I believe that already very precise examination is underway to identify means to ensure power supply for industry, in the process of reducing dependence on nuclear power and ensuring overall growth. I envisage that in the near future it will be possible to announce an overall policy direction in this regard.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister's comments yesterday seemed to present a major transition in national energy policy. Meanwhile, however, Japan faces myriad problems, including an outlook for electric power supply and demand. To what degree did you and other related ministers hold discussions with the Prime Minister before he made those comments last night?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am not present at, nor do I know the details of, all of the Prime Minister's discussions with other ministers. However, concerning the idea of reducing reliance on nuclear power while ensuring the safety of nuclear power stations as we continue to use them during the immediate future, all of the related ministers, or rather all parties have reached consensus on this matter. This is even apparent when watching the recent "Sunday Debate" on NHK.

REPORTER: If that is the case, what kind of explanation did you receive from the Prime Minister concerning the content of his press conference, and at what stage did you receive it?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What I just said - in other words, there was a general consensus among the parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the other day on "Sunday Debate." It is my understanding that the Prime Minister wants to more clearly present his direction for further increasing the safety of nuclear power stations and then, while continuing to utilize them, gradually decrease Japan's dependence on them.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm what you just said. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said something to the effect of "nuclear power stations will be eliminated in the future." If he ultimately only said that reliance on nuclear power generation would be reduced, is it correct to say that the Prime Minister yesterday stated that, depending on the circumstances, nuclear power generation will continue to be utilized in Japan's energy policy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is my understanding that yesterday the Prime Minister said that, at least for the immediate future, and I do not mean a half-year or full year but a somewhat longer span of time, Japan will continue to utilize nuclear power generation while increasing its level of safety.

REPORTER: According to your explanation, the Prime Minister didn't use the word "abandoning nuclear power (datsu-genpatsu)," so is it safe to say that the Cabinet is completely in accord with the ideas that the Prime Minister spoke of yesterday?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that the Prime Minister spoke very clearly in his capacity as head of government about the specific short-term policies that the Government is carrying out, or will be advancing in the immediate future, issues for mid-term considerations and deliberations, and his thoughts on what is desirable in the future. At the very least I can say that the part of his speech where he spoke of his thoughts and desires for the distant future was his true feelings, and the Government, in particular, has gained a degree of consensus for a specific short-term and mid-term response that must be made.

REPORTER: If that is the case, since the Prime Minister's policy to reduce reliance on and eliminate nuclear power generation in the future, which he expressed at the press conference yesterday, has not manifested in a Cabinet decision, is it correct to say that while this is the policy of the Prime Minister it will be passed on to the next administration? That is to say, is it not the so-called official stance of the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I repeatedly said, I believe that there is a general consensus between all parties, national consensus indeed, on the policy to reduce reliance on nuclear power generation, while we continue to utilize nuclear power stations at the same time as we work to increase their safety. Even on the "Sunday Debate" program, where guests actually speak on behalf of each party, each party made comments to this effect. The issues we face now are how fast to proceed and what to do beyond that. This is where people's opinions become more varied. My understanding is that each party has reached accord on the reduction of dependency, so it is not a matter of whether or not the Cabinet has made any decisions.

REPORTER: I understand that there is generally a consensus on decreasing dependence on nuclear power generation, but yesterday the Prime Minister very clearly stated that Japan must aim to realize a society that is sustainable even without nuclear power stations. Nevertheless, according to your explanation neither the Government nor the Cabinet has laid out any policy objectives for realizing such a society, but that the Prime Minister simply presented his ideological objectives - his dream. In other words, does that mean that the Prime Minister's statement was nothing more than him simply speaking his ideologies, for instance, that nuclear weapons should be eliminated in the future, or that we should achieve unarmed neutrality, or something like that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I do not think the term "dream" conveys the exact nuance. But as I just said, I believe that the Prime Minister, in his own way, performed well in organizing, distinguishing, and conveying the concrete short-term efforts that are being carried out by the Cabinet as well as the undertakings that are to be carried out in the immediate future - that could mean several weeks, a month, a month and a half, or any amount of time - in addition to issues for which a certain level of consensus must be realized within the DPJ and among other parties in concrete ways in the medium term by commencing discussion, as well as a future long-term direction. He did not speak of concrete undertakings that are to be made right now. The term "dream" seems somewhat misleading, but it is my understanding that his point was that considerations should be carried out with such a direction in view.

REPORTER: Do you mean that the Cabinet does not have the goal of eliminating nuclear power from Japan within a period of time that is within the responsibility of the current administration, rather than 100 years or 200 years into the future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that the Prime Minister did not say that much, at least at the Prime Minister's press conference yesterday. I am aware of the fact that various discussions and studies are being advanced in the Energy and Environment Council. Firstly, for the short term, particularly this summer, we are getting METI to take quite specific measures, and in the meantime the Council is debating the relationships between electricity supply and demand, safety, and the overall direction of policy for the period from this winter to summer next year. It is necessary to first gradually work out the specific details starting from these issues, and then have thorough debates about precisely how to proceed on to t reducing our dependence on nuclear power and over what period of time. This is what the Prime Minister also said. So I think the current position of the government is that there is no specific government view on the issue of what happens after that; rather we would like to continue discussion with an eye on these points.

REPORTER: Yesterday the Prime Minister said that we can get through not only summer this year but also winter this year with power saving measures, and that there would be no problem with supply and demand in summer next year if we introduce the widespread use of natural gas, etc. Regarding this estimate, what kinds of assumptions do you have to make about the operational status of the nuclear power stations with regularly scheduled checks expected soon to come up and assert that the situation will be "feasible" with such certainty?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: While making a number of suppositions, we are getting the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) and then METI, and the National Policy Unit (NPU) to conduct specific investigations at this time. We have obtained a general consensus about the overall outlook to the effect that if a strong response is made, because we still have some time, we can overcome the problems. I want to work out more specific details and show them to you as soon as possible.

REPORTER: In other words, you mean that you are not making the assumption that all of the nuclear power stations will be suspended?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: By the expectation that we can get through this summer, I am referring to the fact that there is a prospect that we will probably be able to get through the summer with understanding and cooperation on a variety of issues, primarily cooperation with the power saving measures from everyone, of course including the power companies and all members of the public. Of course investigations based on certain suppositions are necessary, but I think that making a variety of meticulous efforts is naturally included in these investigations.

REPORTER: I think whether or not it is an estimate based on the assumption that the restarting of operations at the nuclear power stations will be approved is not a problem of the detailed investigations; essentially it is a serious matter that serves as a major assumption. Setting aside this summer, are you making the assumption that we will be able to get through this winter and summer next year even if operations are not restarted at the nuclear power plants and even if all of them are suspended?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We are thinking that we will be able to make an announcement at a certain stage after conducting specific and meticulous investigations. As the Prime Minister stated yesterday, based on the policy we announced the other day to resume the operation of those nuclear power stations that are currently suspended after their safety is carefully assured, which has been made clear as the policy of the Government, we want to make an announcement after conducting investigations based on suppositions about a variety of possibilities.

REPORTER: I think there are concerns that if we use so-called reserve power generation capacities such as privately-owned power generation by companies, etc., the prices of oil and coal will rise, but what are your thoughts about this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Under the Minister for National Policy we are saying that a stable electricity supply must be carefully presented in terms of both "quantity" and "cost", and I think the debates and investigations are proceeding under that assumption.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question about the new plan. If the plan is to decrease the dependence on nuclear power, it is hard to imagine that new nuclear power stations will be constructed. There are currently plans to construct nuclear power stations for various areas of Japan. How does the Government intend to deal with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The comment the Prime Minister made yesterday, and the comment I made a moment ago about that there is a broad consensus also among the parties, were indeed both referring to reducing the dependence in the medium-term. As for matters such as the specific timeline and process, I believe each party indeed has a variety of opinions and various discussions are unfolding within each party. Indeed, detailed reviews and examinations are required. What we are saying is that we need to thoroughly carry out these processes.

REPORTER: You are saying that at this present stage the Government is not yet in a situation to discuss a clear policy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: That's correct.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Going back to the subject of nuclear power, I have a question on Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, which Chubu Electric Power Company suspended in response to the shutdown request made by the Prime Minister in May. Does the Government's plan call for carrying out a primary assessment of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, just like the other nuclear power stations which are currently suspended?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I interpreted the document as saying that, also in view of its background, Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station does not have the same status as the other nuclear power stations.

REPORTER: If they are not equivalent, what sort of assessments will be carried out for Hamaoka (Nuclear Power Station)? Secondary assessment? Primary assessment? Will Hamaoka (Nuclear Power Station) be treated as a special case and assessed under a separate framework?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The reason why the shutdown of Hamaoka (Nuclear Power Station) was originally requested was because it was assumed that the area had an extremely high risk for earthquakes, etc. I believe we need to examine and review from a slightly different dimension whether or not various measures are sufficiently being undertaken based on this premise.

REPORTER: Regarding the secondary assessment, the document stated that all nuclear power stations will be evaluated.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It means those currently in operation and those that have restarted operations. If Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station is to restart operations in the future, this policy calls for carrying out a primary assessment before operations are restarted. However, as to what steps will be taken or what will happen before that stage, we are thinking about them from a different dimension.

(Abridged)