Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Restarting of operations at nuclear power stations (new standards)

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations. At yesterday's press conference, I believe you said that obtaining local consent is not required under legal and other frameworks. Does this mean that even if there is opposition from areas with nuclear power station, nuclear power stations may be operated by political judgment? Can you confirm this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: This will be explained carefully moving forward. Naturally, the Government's stance to seek the understanding of the communities remains unchanged. What I mentioned yesterday was that no certificate of consent or consent has ever been required legally, and therefore, I was stating the facts.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Yesterday, you said that the Government will determine whether consent has been obtained, whether understanding has been obtained. As to the criteria for determining the Government's obtaining of understanding, on what basis will it determine that understanding has been obtained?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: An important element is that first, the nuclear power station fully complies with the safety standards, the outline of which was presented yesterday. Going forward, in the case of Oi Nuclear Power Station, the Government will be verifying whether it is properly in line with the standards. If it is subsequently found that the nuclear power station is squarely in line, this will then be explained in detail also to the communities and their understanding will be sought. This is the stance with which the Government will be moving forward. Ultimately, however, I believe the process will be such that the relevant ministers, the four ministers, will be making the final consideration, and furthermore, that the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will be giving the final approval.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to this work of verifying whether Oi Nuclear Power Station is in line with the standards that you mentioned a moment ago, will this work also be done next week onwards at another meeting of the relevant ministers?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: This work will be further undertaken tonight as well, at which time a timetable will be decided, including whether it will be next week and onwards. Of course, the standards that were presented yesterday and will be confirmed today are still general standards, and in the future we will of course need to verify whether the nuclear power station is in line with the specific standards. And then I believe the four ministers will also be confirming this.

REPORTER: Also, I have a question regarding the third standard that was newly presented. While the request from municipalities to the Government was for the Government to establish safety standards proactively, this standard requires the nuclear operator to submit an independent plan. With the nuclear operator being asked to submit the plan, there are already many questions being raised about how much collateral the Government can provide. Regarding the third standard, how will the Government be involved in the plan that is to be submitted by the nuclear operator?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Government is also involved in ensuring that the plan is fully executed based on the third standard. However, at the very least the fundamental elements should all be cleared in the first and second standards. So far, the Government has set out safety assessments, so-called primary assessment and secondary assessment of stress tests. I believe whether the primary assessment will be cleared by the new first and second standards should be examined by actually applying them.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the third safety standard, will the Government also be fully supervising rather than just leaving it up to the nuclear operator?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will be giving full guidance, management, and supervision.

(Abridged)