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The third update of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station accident (September 1 through November 30, 2011) SHIBUTANI Yu
Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Waseda Bldg. 1-21-1, Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0051 Japan (shibutaniyu@aol.com)
Abstract:This article provides the third update of the Fukushima Daiichi accident that occurred on March 11, 2011. In the report of the first update of the Fukushima Daiichi accident on March 11 through May 31, the situation was reported on both on-site and off-site of the Fukushima Daiichi, including; failed cooldown of decay heat and meltdown of stricken reactors; emergency evacuation of local residents, radioactive contamination, spread of biased rumorsby the information closure by government, regional cooperation with China, Taiwan and Korea,and visit of IAEA investigation team to Japan. The report of the second update on June 1 through August 31 reported the issues of, harsh public criticism against government and electric power companies, results of the public opinion poll, a sort of gentlemen’s agreements between nuclear power companies and local governmentswhich would be peculiar tradition in Japan, the first revision of the road map to cold shutdown of stricken reactors, and submission of report on Fukushima Daiichi accident to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).This article provides the third update from September 1 through November 30, particularly on the issues of the second revision of the road map wherethe “cold shutdown” state should be reached before the end of 2011, the overview of governmental organization on the overall energy and nuclear policy, and the establishment of the nuclear disaster response headquarters (HQ) in the Prime Minister’s Office.The HQ in collaboration with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) decided the framework of road map plans, provision of various assistanceand compensationforthe residents affected by the nuclear incident, redefinitionby the Nuclear Safety Commissionforevacuation areas, recovery process of radioactive decontaminated areas, investigation and verification of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, reorganization of TEPCO managementand financial system, establishment of damage compensation scheme, and so on.As a consequence of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan’s nuclear policy has been challenged bythe reversal of public opinion.The government of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) puts the highest priority on “innovative” energy and environmental strategies to seek the “best energy mix policy” by the use of more renewable energy andthe reduction of nuclear energy reliance.
Keyword: Fukushima Daiichi accident; reshaping nuclear policy; revision of road map to restore accident
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