Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: At your press conference yesterday afternoon, I believe you responded that the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station is also included in the framework for restarting the operations of the nuclear power stations which are currently undergoing regular inspections. When the Kan administration announced in July that stress tests, etc., will be performed, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said that Hamaoka was shut down based on Prime Minister Kan's request and that it will not be restarted immediately. NISA was indicating that the Government's view was that Hamaoka is a special case. However, is your response yesterday implying that the Government's policy has been changed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: No. In terms of thoroughly verifying and confirming the safety of each and every nuclear power station, it can be said that each and every one of them is a special case. With Hamaoka, in addition to the primary assessment, we will need to obtain the understanding of the community upon verifying its safety, for example, by implementing the mid- to long-term measures which were presented when Hamaoka shut down its operations. Furthermore, in terms of the respective nuclear power stations, there is the issue of installing sea walls on the side of the nuclear power station facing the ocean and the installation of floodwalls for the seawater pump area. In other words, each and every nuclear power station is different. In this sense, Hamaoka is not special, and a decision will be made about the respective nuclear power stations based on their particular characteristics. Above all, I believe we need to have the communities' understanding.

(Abridged)