Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE 

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:

(Abridged)

My other announcement is about a meeting of the Ministerial Meeting on Electric Power Sector Reform and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which took place before the Cabinet meeting. The issue of electric power sector reform involves a vast array of points of contention, for example, compensation by TEPCO, the modality of electric power supply, the establishment of nuclear power safety measures, and the institutional reform of the electric power business. While each and every point of contention will be responsibly dealt with by the relevant ministers, because the issues are interrelated, the meeting is being held in recognition of the importance of ensuring coordination among the relevant ministers. At today's meeting, Minister Edano reported on the approval of the Special Business Plan of the Corporation in Support of Compensation for Nuclear Damage and TEPCO. In addition, each minister reported on the progress made in their respective areas. The Ministerial Meeting will be convened as necessary in light of the progress of the respective initiatives. I believe details will be explained at the press conference of Minister Edano.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the emission of xenon at Reactor No. 2 of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. While at one time TEPCO said that there may also be a possibility of recriticality, it turned out to be a spontaneous nuclear fission. If it is a spontaneous nuclear fission, I believe the xenon concentration can be speculated in advance. It seems that there was a bit of confusion this time. Regarding this matter, will the Government be raising any issues with TEPCO, and will the Government be issuing any warnings and so on to TEPCO?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I beg your pardon, any what?

REPORTER: Warnings and so on.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Warnings.

REPORTER: Warnings or point it out to TEPCO.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: According to TEPCO's report as of now, the xenon detected were a result of a spontaneous nuclear fission reaction, which occurs due to the existence of substances such as curium -- a reaction which occurs even after a reactor is shut down under normal circumstances, and that it is not a result of criticality with continuous nuclear fission reaction. From here on, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), from the Government's standpoint, will be carrying out thorough verifications and checks. Therefore, I believe it is still too early to make a conclusion. This matter should be judged after NISA makes a final judgment. At this stage, TEPCO has concluded that the xenon were a result of spontaneous nuclear fission.

(Abridged)