Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The current Special Business Plan of TEPCO (with a provisional plan to restart operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station)

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The current Special Business Plan of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is based on the assumption that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station will come back online from April 2013 as part of measures to improve revenue streams. However, the cautious stance by Niigata Prefecture to the restarting of operations remains unchanged from before, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano has also stated that the plan itself is a preliminary one. There are those who believe that the plan is therefore not achievable. Does the Government believe that this plan, which it has approved, is an achievable one?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: (The Special Business Plan of TEPCO was received and approved yesterday. This was announced by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano after the meeting yesterday.) In the approved plan it is stated that from April 2013 there is a provisional plan to restart operations gradually at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station. This has been incorporated into the plan because in the event that the plan was compiled based on the assumption that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station would remain in shut down, it would entail significant further rises in power tariffs. Naturally the restarting of operations is based on the confirmation procedures that have been in place to date, namely assuring the safety of the power station and gaining the understanding of local residents. TEPCO also understands that these conditions are absolutely prerequisite to restarting operations and has compiled its revenue plan based on the tentative assumption that operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station will be restarted. The Government approved the plan based on this understanding. The fact that there was a lack of accuracy on the part of TEPCO on some points in the compilation and confirmation process of the primary assessment report that was submitted recently relating to the stress test is something that should be deeply reflected on and further efforts should be made to ensure safety and gain the understanding of local residents. As for what will happen after April 2013, that is something I cannot predict or say with any certainty at this point.

(Abridged)