SimplyInfo » Entries tagged with "restarts"
NRA Sets Rules For Japan’s Nuclear Future
[Translate] Japan’s NRA has begun the process to establish new rules (or guidelines) for reactor restarts. The rules are open for commentary for the next 30 days. Some of the things being considered are a process to give exceptions to allow reactors to run beyond their 40 year designed lifespan. Filtered vents will also be required before a restart could be considered, something the US has failed to due over industry pressure. Higher standards to determine if a reactor is over an active fault will be used and no reactor will be allowed to operate if it sits over an active fault. There are also countermeasures to deal with volcanic eruption but details of this were not made clear to the public. Local governments are also involved in the process and will be … Read entire article »
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TEPCO’s Image Rehab Game
[Translate] The media jumped all over TEPCO’s latest excuse without a moment of investigation. TEPCO announced that the disaster happened because they were bad. The only media account that got it right was one by Mari Yamaguchi for AP. “Our safety culture, skills and ability were all insufficient,” TEPCO President Naomi Hirose told a news conference. “We must humbly accept our failure to prevent the accident, which we should have avoided by using our wisdom and human resources to be better prepared.” The report and staged for the media admissions were not prompted by any outside force, this was pure TEPCO. The stunt smacks of a disgraced televangelist or a politician caught with their pants down. Make a tearful admission about how awful you are and how you will be better in the … Read entire article »
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Abe Stacks Deck To Obtain Nuclear Restarts
[Translate] PM Abe tossed out six panel members with anti-nuclear views from the government’s energy policy advisory council in mid March 2013. He replaced them with 10 new appointees. Now about 2 weeks later that council has declared that the early restart of idled nuclear reactors should be done despite continued public resistance. The council appears to be heavily populated by representatives from various industrial sectors in Japan. There has been a divide since the March 2011 disaster between certain large industry sectors and the public along with other business sectors. The large industry sectors that are also the heavy power consumers want reactors restarted and appear intent on doing so over the protests of everyone else. One of the committee members pushing for reactor restarts is Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of Toray Industries Inc. Toray … Read entire article »
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Abenomics To Blame For Fukushima
[Translate] William Pesek at Bloomberg makes an interesting proposition that the policies of the LDP in Japan are part of the root cause for Fukushima. He makes a good case how all the factors that caused the massive disaster were put in place by the LDP. Read his whole piece here. Just to prove Mr. Pesek’s case, Abe announced today he will use political will to force reactors back into operation. So much for the NRA and safety? Just in case Abe tries blaming this on consumers, as has been done in the past, this reminder that industry is the largest consumer of energy with the metals and chemical industries topping that list. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content … Read entire article »
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TEPCO’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Plant May Be Over Active Faults
[Translate] Japan’s nuclear regulator says the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant may be sited over active faults. If the faults are found to be under the reactor buildings the plant could be barred from restarting any impacted units. If faults are found to be active within the plant grounds they could require extensive retrofit to attempt to prevent damage at the plant. TEPCO and the Japanese government have been putting considerable effort into restarting this nuclear plant with 7 reactors in the hopes it would generate enough money to help pay for TEPCO’s disaster at Fukushima. TEPCO has also been throwing considerable money into the restart efforts at Kashiwazaki. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may … Read entire article »
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Media Picks Up On Risks At Oi
[Translate] The media has picked up on the risks at the Oi nuclear plant in Japan. Our report on the real risks at Oi mentions our concerns with the limited roads into the plant. We also covered the many portions of that single road that are at high risk for tsunami or earthquake damage. The Associated Press has picked up on the issue and found something more. “If the Ohi nuclear reactors plunged into a Fukushima-style meltdown, the only route for escaping or for sending help would be a winding, cliff-hugging road often closed by snow in winter or clogged by beachgoers in summer.” “Still, Japan’s government has chosen to lift its post-Fukushima nuclear freeze and restart two reactors at Ohi, even though construction of an alternative route to the facility is barely on … Read entire article »
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The Real Risks At Oi
[Translate] The SimplyInfo.org research team has been busy looking into the newly claimed safety efforts at the Oi nuclear plant in Japan. The Prime Minister and Fukui governor have given their approval to restart units 3 & 4 at Oi, ending Japan’s days of being nuclear free. Though Japan has been largely nuclear free for months as most reactors have been offline for an extended period of time. The reactors at Oi have been offline between 6 months to 1 year. KEPCO is now trying to rush the restart of unit 3 to a short few weeks. The longer a reactor is offline the more work is involved in restarting it. Oi has a number of known issues and past safety problems that have not been resolved. The plant’s siting and design … Read entire article »
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Oi Given Restart By Noda, Large Protests Mostly Ignored
[Translate] In many portions of the English speaking media, Noda is being praised for “doing the right thing” for Japan. At the same time an 11,000 people protest in the middle of a work day has been mostly ignored by both the Japanese and foreign media. Both EX-SKF and Fukushima Diary are reporting on the large Friday protest via citizen accounts and independent media. http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-kind-of-joke-is-this-japanese-msms.html http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/06/11000-people-joined-demonstration-in-front-of-official-residence-of-jp-pm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=11000-people-joined-demonstration-in-front-of-official-residence-of-jp-pm Mainstream media’s take on the restarts at Oi. The Economist praises Noda as an “unlikely hero” for ignoring all the resistance to reactor restarts (via EX-SKF) http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/06/economist-magazine-praises-japans-pm.html Time gives it split coverage between opposition and Noda’s claims this is needed. http://world.time.com/2012/06/15/start-your-engines-japan-gets-ready-to-return-to-nuclear-power/ MSNBC at least admits the Friday protest but again repeats the govt. line that the restarts are needed to avert blackouts http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/16/12249740-japan-approves-reactor-restarts-more-seen?lite Only MSNBC so far has admitted that the restarts are a handout to … Read entire article »
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Japan Govt. Absolves TEPCO, Blames Public For Oi Restart
[Translate] Former Prime Minister Kan provided his testimony to the national Diet in Japan recently. In his comments he fended off criticism for his actions during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. He also clarified how the disaster turned him completely off of the idea of nuclear power. “In his testimony, Mr Kan said Japan’s plant safety was inadequate because the energy policy had been hijacked by the ”nuclear village” – a term for the power companies and pro-nuclear regulators and researchers that worked closely together to promote the industry.” “He said the prospect of losing Tokyo made him realize that nuclear power was just too risky, and the consequences of an accident were too large for Japan to accept. ”It is impossible to ensure safety sufficiently to prevent the risk of a … Read entire article »
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Japan Reactor Restarts = Power Company “Corporate Welfare”
[Translate] The national government is pushing hard to restart the Oi reactors in Japan. Pressure is being put on various involved parties at the local level. Nobody wants to have the final decision for the restart put on their shoulders. The vague wording of the need to gain local approval has created a mess with the entities being involved. Many are refusing to admit a clear stance on the issue. Prime minister Noda has claimed that “Japanese lifestyles rely on nuclear power” in an attempt to throw the blame back on the public. The Ohi local assembly has given their approval. The governor of Fukui has not. The mayor of Oi has not. A “group of regional governors” has given approval but it is not totally clear who this includes. The mayor of Osaka has given … Read entire article »
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Oi Restarts Fuels By Political Rivalries
[Translate] A recent Japan Times story highlights the political strategies and tactics under the surface of the Oi reactor restarts. Kansai Electric and the government claims of power shortages may have more to do with trying to hammer the emerging political party in Osaka than actual energy policy. The new party lead by Osaka mayor Hashimoto has sweeping ambitions to take over seats in the national Diet. Restarts and threats of blackouts may have more to do with political tactics then actual energy needs. Read the entire thing here at Japan Times. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120516x3.html This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with … Read entire article »
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Reactor Restarts Come Down To Money
[Translate] The local assembly of Oi town has voted to approve the restart of the Oi reactors. The assembly cited economic concerns such as employment. The $32 million in annual subsidies the city is given from Kansai electric is probably a considerable part of the decision. Some have described the subsidies as like a drug that causes the local municipality to become both dependent and complacent about fostering the economy independent of the power companies. This approval to restart the reactors is not shared by the other nearby towns. Eight of the eleven nearby towns do not want the reactors restarted. The power companies in Japan are heavily invested in nuclear. The plan to reform TEPCO hinges on the ability to restart the reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. The Japanese government has nationalized TEPCO, leaving … Read entire article »
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ZERO
[Translate] The last operating reactor in Japan has shut down. Hokkaido Electric Power, which runs the plant, said they started inserting control rods at 5pm that would halt the chain reaction and bring the reactor to “cold shutdown” sometime on Monday. The Tomari unit 3 reactor owned by Hokkaido Electric was to go into shutdown Saturday May 5th leaving no reactors operating in Japan. The national government and the nuclear power industry have been claiming the lack of nuclear power will cause blackouts and shortages as summer approaches. Meanwhile other estimates show Japan may have enough power in all regions to cover the normal need including spikes caused by heat waves. With all reactors in Japan shut down and major issues surrounding restarts, it remains to be seen if Japan will remain nuclear free … Read entire article »
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Tsruga Impossible To Restart, Issues At Kashiwazaki Raise Concerns
[Translate] Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission stated it would be impossible to restart the units at Tsruga nuclear plant. Multiple fault lines run under or near the plant with evidence they have acted together in the past. This raised the earthquake risks at the plant beyond the safety margins allowed to operate. It is very unlikely the reactors at Tsruga will ever be restarted. This week NISA raised the ground motion projections for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant. These new ground motion projections use multiple faults acting at once where TEPCO’s previous assumptions only used one fault line. TEPCO says they will add reinforcement as needed to the plant and intend to restart the reactors. There has been no word yet if NISA considered the risk at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa to be as severe as Tsruga or … Read entire article »
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84% Of Japan Businesses Do Not Support Reactor Restarts
[Translate] 84% of Japan businesses do not want reactors restarted or only want restarts only after sufficient safety changes are made. These businesses were against the reactor restarts even if it could potentially have negative impacts on their business. With such strong opposition in the business community and with the general public it makes one wonder exactly who is for the reactor restarts? Meanwhile Prime Minister Noda’s approval rating continues to fall, Reuters cites the reactor restarts and the proposed sales tax hike as reasons for his waning approval. METI ministers visited the governors of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures to try to pressure them into approving reactor restarts. Shiga’s governor complained of the both the promotion of nuclear power and the oversight of nuclear power being with one agency (METI) and that the … Read entire article »
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Japan’s Political Sideshow
[Translate] We have been following the recent political games surrounding the restart of the Oi reactors. The government disconnect with reality or the people continues on. This week the ministry in charge of food safety instructed grocery stores and other companies testing food for radiation to end their food testing standards and use the much higher government standards. Various grocery stores, food coops and food producers began their own testing due to lack of comprehensive testing by the government over the last year or more. The government safety standards of 500 bq/kg and the new lower 100 bq/kg are unacceptable to many consumers. Food retailers and producers did what consumers wanted, food that is assured to be safe beyond the government’s high “safety” threshold. The government early on had declared foods to … Read entire article »
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Japan’s Politicians & Advisors Behind The Reactor Restarts
[Translate] While there has been an almost hyper-focus on METI minister Yukio Edano related to the issue of reactor restarts and Japan’s energy policy, he is not the key player. A list of politicians who are likely behind this out of touch government push has been slowly developing. Their comments on nuclear energy in Japan and the reactor restarts indicate they are likely behind this effort. We are looking into others. If you have some related political insight share in the comments or stop by the live chat and let us know. Yoshito Sengoku: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshito_Sengoku DPJ’s Sengoku describes halt of all nuclear plants ‘mass suicide’ NAGOYA, April 16, Kyodo Yoshito Sengoku, acting chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, on Monday described the halting of all nuclear power plants in Japan as its ”mass suicide.” ”If … Read entire article »
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Japan’s Perplexing Reactor Restarts; Where Are We Going And Why Are We In This Handbasket?
[Translate] As the Japanese government has been rushing to restart nuclear reactors everyone is asking the same question. Why? It really doesn’t make sense. In a country still reeling from a massive nuclear disaster why would the government be so intent on ignoring the obvious risks to charge ahead with restarts? The central government excuses have been that there is going to be a dire electricity shortage in Kansai this summer and that reactors have been declared safe. A number of sources have looked closely into the power capacity in the region and the demand during previous heat waves. They found that the region could supply enough power to meet those previous high demands without the addition of nuclear power. The government has yet to provide any hard evidence for their power shortage … Read entire article »
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Japan Central Government May Restart Reactors Next Week
[Translate] The central government appears poised to restart the nuclear reactors at Oi as early as next week. This article by Asahi Shimbun claims the reactors may restart as early as next week but also mentions the possibility that approval from local governments will still be needed. There is also a mention that it could be decided based on electricity demands. That opens the door for months long battles about conservation and the honesty of power company demand estimates that have been found in the last year to be inaccurate in many instances. The governor of Fukushima prefecture has blasted the central government plan. He cites that the Fukushima disaster is still not fully understood as the country grapples with new instances of contamination on a daily basis. The accident itself is … Read entire article »
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Reactor Restart Push Heats Up In Japan
[Translate] Edano may have an evil twin. One day he is stating that he is against the reactor restarts, the next he is promoting them. Kansai Electric has magically (or conveniently) managed to meet meet enough of the “instant noodle” last minute safety guidelines to prevent a meltdown in the case of a power outage according to Edano. The government cabinet believes Kansai’s reactors could withstand a power outage. No word on any other disasters, like the earthquake and tsunami that pummeled Fukushima Daiichi. What work has been done to meet the station blackout risk was not described. Much of the needed safety work has already been kicked down the road by a number of years. “In the timetable, Kepco revealed a plan to set up venting systems with filters at the Oi plant to reduce the … Read entire article »
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