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@dean According to the records nobody has extra on hand or recently shipped in. The only unused assemblies left in the country are the 28 at Kashiwazaki. This is if things are going by the book.

that may create a huge shortage of LEU . not even at all sure on that supply ut they could hold off mox if not available I would think

good one Edano... the countries that like it best I think are the ones who tried to have consistent design through the country.. cheaper.. lower cost. etc.

in either case @ lilly, there will be a supply and demand problem on MOX.. with no one coming to the plate to make up the difference

Govt:Safety first in reactor restart policy

The Japanese government says it will put safety before energy-supply concerns when it announces its views on restarting the country's suspended nuclear reactors.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano made the remark at a news conference on Friday.

He is discussing the wording of the government's so-called "unified view" with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda and the Minister in charge of the nuclear crisis, Goshi Hosono.

The government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been criticized for a lack of consistency and for holding disparate views on the safety of the nuclear reactors.

On June 18th, Kaieda declared that safety measures were in place for the suspended reactors, and asked local communities to allow electric power companies to restart them.

On Monday, Mayor Hideo Kishimoto of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, officially agreed to have 2 reactors at the nuclear plant in the town restarted.

On Wednesday, however, Kaieda announced a plan to conduct stress tests on all reactors in the country on the instruction of Prime Minister Kan. This sudden change baffled the local communities and especially angered Kishimoto, who withdrew his agreement to allow the restart.

Opposition members have also accused Kaieda and nuclear crisis minister Hosono of making differing comments on the planned stress test.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary said he believes he and the 2 ministers share views on the matter. He indicated that the 3 are discussing the wording of the government's unified view so they can explain it without causing any misunderstanding or confusion. He said the government will take great care about how it announces the unified view.

Edano said the government must present its outlook on the country's future energy supply, but that nuclear safety and a sense of security will have priority when coming up with the government's unified view on the reactors.

Friday, July 08, 2011 20:22 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp

@Edano Sounds like Kan & Edano are growing some spine.

like GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE.. duh

@lillymunster : i have the impression that they worked out a distinct strategy amidst the chaos. they see the chance to break the power of the electric companies. i still think kan is stronger than he seems.

so far he hasn't been fired on the spot

@dean : i don't know who is kan's boss, but it does not seem to be tepco at least.

for sure Edano..

Ratio of operating nuke reactors stands at 36.8% in June

TOKYO, July 9, Kyodo

The ratio of Japan's 54 commercial nuclear reactors operating came to 36.8 percent in June in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster in March, according to the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum.

As of the end of June, 35 reactors, including those at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant, were suspended, bringing the rate down to the lowest level since May 1979, when the figure dropped to 34.2 percent, as reactors across Japan were suspended following the nuclear crisis at Three Mile Island in the United States.

The suspension of the No. 3 reactor at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Mihama power plant since May 15 for a regular checkup also contributed to push down the rate, the forum said.
english.kyodonews.jp

China, N. Korea to boost renewable energy cooperation

BEIJING, July 7, Kyodo
english.kyodonews.jp

Excess level of cesium found in meat of 10 more Fukushima cows

TOKYO, July 9, Kyodo
english.kyodonews.jp

@inCalifornia : thank you. the french have a big problem because they depend on nukes, energetically and economically. the export of nuke related products and knowledge forms a huge share of their productivity. it will take a long time for them to turn away from nukes. but, as we can read, there is a growing opposition. i think countries with an energy mix of not more than 25-30% nuke energy have acted very wisely, so they can abolish nukes quite easily. the french are in a trap with their 80% nuke power.

@M.I.A. : beef, tea, fish, humans .... this is the next step of the disaster. the accumulation in plants and animals is hardly stoppable. until today we cannot eat some products from southern germany, like mushrooms or beef from wild animals, 25 years after chernobyl. the poison is out and spreading.

Govt. explains Genkai nuke plant safety measures

The Japanese government held a meeting in Saga Prefecture, western Japan, on Friday to tell local residents about safety measures being taken to enable nuclear reactors in the area to be restarted.

The meeting concerned 2 reactors at the Genkai nuclear plant. It was the second of its kind since the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant began in March. About 370 local residents attended.

An official from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency apologized for causing confusion among local residents by abruptly deciding to perform extra safety tests on all nuclear reactors in Japan. He said the Genkai plant is already safe because of emergency measures taken by his agency after the earthquake and tsunami in March.

One local resident said the government should have performed the extra safety tests before declaring the Genkai plant safe. Another questioned whether it is appropriate to restart the Genkai plant's reactors before the Fukushima Daiichi plant is brought under control.

Genkai Town Mayor Hideo Kishimoto reacted to the government's decision to perform extra safety tests by retracting his approval for restarting the reactors at the Genkai plant.

Saga Governor Yasushi Furukawa said he will postpone a decision on whether to allow the reactors to be restarted.

Saturday, July 09, 2011 06:17 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp