Justin McCurry, (best known for fear-mongering about nuclear energy) opines that rising electricity costs from gas and oil are sited by supporters of a program to bring reactors back on line, but ageing plants and unspecified risks raise widespread concern, but about what what not mentioned. The major issue in Japan is fear of radiation but the reader should be reminded that although the tsunamis caused more than 20,000 deaths and at least one nuclear power plant reactor to suffer a core meltdown, no one was killed as a result of radiation or even suffered any form of radiation sickness. The management did an outstanding job of containing the damage.
After months (although years) of debate about safety, Japan will begin producing nuclear energy for the first time in almost two years close to the town of Satsumasendai as early as Tuesday. Restarting one of the Sendai nuclear plants two 30-year-old reactors represents a victory for the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who insists that without nuclear energy the Japanese economy will buckle beneath the weight of expensive oil and gas imports. But his call for Japan to confront its Fukushima fear demons has been greeted with skepticism by most voters (how many was that?), whose opposition to nuclear restarts remains firm (because of residual fear), even in the face of rising electricity bills.
Just over four years since Fukushima Daiichi had a triple meltdown, triggering the worst nuclear crisis for 25 years (worst? Was serious but handled by management), Japan remains deeply divided (what is the basis for this claim?) over its future energy mix. Sure, some will remain fearful, but this will be overcome sooner than later).
The 2011 disaster(? remember, no one was killed or injured) forced the evacuation of 160,000 people for the purpose of assessing damage, and the closure of all 48 working reactors for safety checks. Opinions among the 100,000 residents of Satsumasendai range from anxiety to relief. Of course.
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Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-