Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano indicated in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun an idea about confirming the safety (of nuclear power stations) among the relevant ministers before obtaining the communities' understanding. Can you discuss the status of the considerations being made about this within the administration?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: With regard to the restarting of operations, Minister Edano said in the interview that first, when the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) arrives at a conclusion, the safety will be confirmed and explanations will be provided to the communities to obtain their understanding. Secondly, the Minister said that ultimately four ministers will be making a decision about the restarting of operations, including whether the communities' understanding has been obtained. I believe that is basically the process. The NSC is presently confirming the examination conducted by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) regarding Reactors 3 and 4 of Oi Nuclear Power Station. Once the NSC confirms this, ultimately a comprehensive decision will be made at the political level, including whether the communities' understanding has been obtained. I believe this is what Minister Edano has in mind regarding the specific process.

(Abridged)