Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: The 17 nuclear reactors of TEPCO have now all been stopped, which raises concerns about power shortages during the summer months. What is the Government's view of this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: In November last year the Energy and Environment Council compiled an outlook, in which it was hypothesized that if no nuclear reactors were restarted and that if demand rose to the peak demand experienced during the heat wave of 2010, in the event that no effective countermeasures were implemented it was projected that a power supply and demand gap of 10 percent would occur. Given this outlook, various considerations have been implemented with a determination to ensure that all means are mobilized to eliminate the power supply and demand gap, based on the Action Plan to Stabilize Energy Supply and Demand. With regard to the specific measures for the summer, details will be compiled around the time of the Golden Week national holiday (the end of April and early May) after reviewing and revising the supply and demand outlook in detail. I believe that Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano has provided a response to this effect in the Diet. Given the fact that if a decision is made early, there will still be aspects of the outlook that are unclear, and also in light of the fact that if a decision is made late, it will be difficult to respond, so far the Government intends to compile the measures targeting around the time of the Golden Week national holiday as one important timing.

(Abridged)