Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Japanese

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have one more announcement. It is about the start of the power saving period for customers of Kansai Electric Power Company and Kyushu Electric Power Company in order to meet the power saving targets. Based on the "Power Supply and Demand Measures for this Winter," which was decided at the meeting of the Council on Power Supply and Demand on November 1, we have asked that customers conserve power on weekdays from December 1 to March 30, excluding the year-end and New Year period, to the extent that peoples' livelihoods and economic activities are not adversely affected. Starting next week, Monday, December 19, customers of Kansai Electric Power Company will be asked to conserve power by more than 10%, and from the following week, December 26, customers of Kyushu Electric Power Company will be asked to conserve power by more than 5% to meet the power saving targets. This will cause a great inconvenience to customers of both electric power companies. While we apologize for the inconvenience, we would appreciate everyone's cooperation with the implementation of thorough power saving measures to the extent that they do not adversely affect the maintenance of lifeline functions, such as hospitals and railways, as well as production activities and peoples' livelihoods. In order to support these power saving initiatives, the Government, too, will work together with municipalities, electric power companies, and other stakeholders to do our utmost to offer appropriate and detailed timely responses, including providing information regarding power saving.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the cold shutdown that was discussed earlier. With the stabilization of the state of the nuclear reactors, I believe the work to review the Restricted Area and Deliberate Evacuation Area will shift into full gear. However, there are still some places in the area which have high levels of radiation, and I imagine these issues will require consultations with the municipalities. How will the Government be dealing with this moving forward?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The ministers concerned, including myself, have extensively considered this matter over a long period of time to be able to present a vision for the review of the Restricted Area and other zonings following the achievement of Step 2. Regarding the review of the Restricted Area and other zonings and the modality of long-term reconstruction measures, naturally we would like to have a series of thorough discussions with Fukushima Prefecture and relevant municipalities. We plan to offer an explanation to local governments at the earliest possible date following the achievement of Step 2.

(Abridged)