Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Restarting of operations at nuclear power stations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the procedures for the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations, do you consider that within these procedures the words "consent" and "understanding" have the same meaning that we generally apply to them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The only real difference is that the government is not obliged to obtain "consent" in the legal sense for restarting of operation at nuclear power stations. However, since the occurrence of the accident at Fukushima last year the standards, or rather new standards, for restarting of operations at nuclear power stations have been set out and it is therefore the Government's stance to provide explanations to local residents about the procedures.

(Abridged)