Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Restarting operations at nuclear power stations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations, in his press conference this morning Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano indicated his view that other than Oi Nuclear Power Station, which has already been discussed in the forum of the Meeting among Four Ministers on the Issue of Nuclear Power Stations, there is no prospect of the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC)implementing confirmations and verifications on other power stations, and therefore other cases should wait until the inauguration of a new regulatory agency. Is this view one that is generally shared by the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: After listening to Minister Edano's comments, I think his emphasis was somewhat different to what you suggest. First of all, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has already confirmed a verification of the results of the primary assessment (stress test) at the Unit 3 reactor of Ikata Nuclear Power Station, and has submitted the results of its findings to the NSC. With regard to the restarting of operations, as I have stated on numerous occasions, the prescribed procedure is that once NISA has confirmed the primary assessment (stress test) implemented by the power station operator, the results of NISA's findings will be submitted to the NSC, which will confirm and verify their validity. I believe that what Minister Edano stated was basically about the current situation, in which unless the NSC engages in deliberation and verification the process to restart operations cannot proceed.

(Abridged)