EDITORIAL: Time to call it a day on policy of dependence on nuclear energy
Having experienced a major nuclear accident, should Japan continue to depend on nuclear energy for decades to come?
A grim future lies in store if fundamental issues such as safety measures and processing of radioactive waste, along with a detailed examination of social costs, are placed to the side and construction of a new nuclear plant is allowed to proceed.
Unbridled promotion of nuclear energy must not be allowed.
Kansai Electric Power Co. has announced it will conduct research into constructing an advanced reactor at its Mihama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture.
This is the first solid plan for a new nuclear plant in Japan since the catastrophic triple meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2011.
If construction goes ahead, the new facility will likely operate for decades.
In 2022, the government reversed course on nuclear energy and called for maximum usage.
It emphasized the benefits of nuclear energy, citing moves toward a carbon-neutral future and the need for a stable energy supply.
The government worked with the major utilities to create an environment to allow for future construction.
But many doubts remain.
Kansai Electric depends on nuclear energy for close to half of its electric power generation while the ratio taken up by solar and wind power is minimal.
The cost of renewable energy has come down, which represents another plus for energy self-sufficiency.
Having pledged to promote investment in green energy, Kansai Electric must redouble its efforts in that regard.
Its plan highlights an issue that cannot be dealt with by a single company.
Kansai Electric's nuclear plants are concentrated along the coast of Wakasa Bay, which experts say poses significant risks in the event of an accident.
The Fukui prefectural government has requested that the interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel that will be needed be built outside the prefecture, but no candidate site has emerged.
The government's nuclear fuel recycling program has proved to be a major disappointment and there is no indication of how final processing of nuclear waste will be accomplished.
There are also strong concerns about profitability.
In recent years, there have been several examples in the West of construction costs for nuclear plants ballooning way over initial estimates.
The government has a system to provide utilities with stable revenue so it can recover its investment in such mammoth projects.
It also plans to provide more support if construction costs exceed initial estimates.
The funds for that will be tacked onto electric bills, meaning consumers will shoulder the risks on behalf of the plant operator.
Such generous support will require a greater financial burden by the public.
Kansai Electric and the government have a shared responsibility to squarely respond to these and other concerns and offer measures to resolve them.
One reason given by the government and the electric power industry for promoting nuclear energy is the expected increase in electricity demand due to the construction of data centers for cyberspace.
But experts differ considerably in their forecasts.
Competition to develop energy-conserving technology has also intensified.
The switch in nuclear energy policy came within a few months of discussions within a forum dominated by proponents of nuclear energy.
Any such discussions must be held in an open setting as this issue affects everyone.
Since the nuclear disaster 14 years ago, The Asahi Shimbun has campaigned for a society that does not depend on nuclear energy, even if it takes many years.
That would mean gradually stopping operations of the older nuclear plants and not constructing new ones.
The push for energy-saving measures and renewable energy sources must be thoroughly expanded while keeping an eye on a carbon-neutral future and stable energy supply.
The future course of the nation must not be mistaken.
--The Asahi Shimbun, July 23
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