Reactivation of Nuclear Village

Kyushu Electric Power Company resumed the Second Reactor of Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture on Thursday. It was the second nuclear reactor restarted under new regulatory standard settled by Nuclear Regulation Authority after severe accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, following the First Reactor of Sendai. Leaving misgivings of residents around the plant, Shinzo Abe administration is determined to get back to nuclear Japan.

Technological staffs for KEPCO started operation of removing control rod from the reactor in central control room of Sendai Plant in Thursday morning. The reactor reached the critical point of nuclear fission hours later and would be resuming commercial power generation in mid-November. While KEPCO emphasized their effort to preserve safety in their business, they were delighted with improving fiscal balance with the help of nuclear power generation.

In front of the plant and the headquarters of KEPCO in Fukuoka city, protestors yelled against nuclear resumption. “Do not push the button of resumption” or “Safety measures are not sufficient” was their main appeals. In new regulation for nuclear power generation, power company was mandated to set evacuation plan for the residents inside the periphery of 30 kilometers away from the plant, which was extended from former 10 kilometers. However, Iitate village, located 50 kilometers away, was actually affected by fallen radioactive materials emitted from exploded First Fukushima Nuclear Plant in 2011. People around Sendai plant are frustrated with new regulation that requires limited approval from the residents within 30 kilometers.

As seen in new security legislation or Trans-Pacific Partnership, Abe administration has shown no tolerance against opposite opinions. “We will not change our policy to resume nuclear reactors that passed new standard which was the most strict in the world,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. He was saying that nuclear power generation was safe because we have set some new standards, and necessary because economic policy of Abe administration needs it.

A number of reactors are waiting for restarting. Takahama #3 and #4 in Fukui finished all tests for resumption. Its owner, Kansai electric Power Company, hopes it to resume in late December. Ikata #3 in Ehime has been collecting approvals from the residents after passing the test. Examination on Genkai #3 and #4 in Saga and Oi #3 and #4 is reaching conclusion. People in nuclear village of Japan seem to be excited in regaining hegemony in Japanese energy policy as if realizing nothing happened.