Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The procedures for restarting the operations of nuclear power stations

REPORTER: With regard to the procedures for restarting the operations of nuclear power stations, the Governor of Fukui Prefecture and others have expressed complaints that the recent explanations provided by you and the Government do not make clear who is held accountable. Can you please share your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I have said repeatedly, I believe it is very clear. In other words, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) will confirm the safety. NRA will carefully confirm the safety. Therefore, there is no room for any political judgment to be made with respect to safety. Then, when safety is confirmed, as per the formal decision made by the Noda Cabinet, a range of policy resources will be mobilized to enable Japan to achieve zero operating nuclear power stations by the 2030s. In this process, in other words, until this is realized, those nuclear power stations whose safety is confirmed will be utilized as a vital power source. This is the process that will be taken with regard to the restarting of operations of nuclear power stations. Apart from this, there may still be concerns with respect to the explanations provided to the local communities and so on. However, the primary priority is for nuclear operators to offer explanations to everyone in the communities. Of course, the Government will give explanations to those concerned in host municipalities as necessary, as I have stated repeatedly. Therefore, I believe it is very clear. As long as it is necessary to make further efforts to obtain understanding, the Government will naturally give careful explanations to host municipalities and others.

(Abridged)