Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

(Abridged)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I may ask a question concerning our own report. According to our calculation, 10 trillion yen have been invested in nuclear fuel cycle in the last 45 years. This figure has been reported. What are your thoughts on this figure?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As to what I think, well, 45 years is a long period. Particularly in the field of science or basic science research, I believe it is generally natural that such research will cost a large sum of money over a long period. With regard to the so-called nuclear energy policy, including nuclear fuel cycle policy, this will be considered from zero at meetings of the New Nuclear Policy-Planning Council of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) for formulating a new Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy and meetings of the Energy and Environment Council, in light of last year's accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. I believe a conclusion will be reached by around summer of this year.

(Abridged)