Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Government's policy regarding the construction of new nuclear power stations

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to the Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Station. During the press conference this morning following the Cabinet Meeting, Minister Edano commented that the power station will fall under the policy that prevents the construction of new or additional nuclear power facilities. However, at around 3 pm, the Chubu Electric Power Company applied for an extension of their reclamation permit as per the Public Water Body Reclamation Act. What is the Government's view, and if the Government is not going to accept the application, on what grounds will it be denied, and will the Government formalize the response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Have you read the comments from the Chubu Electric Power Company? In short, the application has been submitted with the purpose of maintaining the status quo, and has not been done for the purpose of expanding the facility. Our basic position is as outline in the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment, that is, no new or additional construction will be permitted. However, the Chubu Electric Power Company says that they require more time, as they need to coordinate with local persons concerned. I have been informed that if the permit expires, they will need to immediately remove infrastructure such as their pier. It was for these reasons that the extension application was submitted. I would also like to add that the application was submitted to the prefectural Government. I believe that this is not an issue that the national Government should be getting involved in. I would like to once again establish that the application has been submitted at the discretion of the Chubu Electric Power Company based on the Public Water Body Reclamation Act and prefectural regulations, and that the application is to be dealt with by Yamaguchi Prefecture. As for the Government's position, the Kaminoseki Nuclear Power Station falls under the Government's policy of not permitting the addition or construction of new nuclear power facilities. The policy has received Cabinet approval and is a part of the three principles that we developed as we seek to realize a society that does not depend on nuclear energy.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On a similar topic, I would like to ask a question concerning the Ooma Nuclear Power Plant. You have just stated you will apply the principles of the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment. Am I correct to understand that the rule is that construction that has already commenced will not be prohibited from proceeding, while new, yet to be commenced, construction will not be permitted?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: In one of these cases the procedure has been completed and approved, while in the other case, the procedure itself has not been completed. Therefore these are two completely different situations.

(Abridged)