week 10Japan Seeks Slow Nuclear Phase.docVIP

Japan Seeks Slow Nuclear Phase-Out TOKYO—The Japanese government unveiled a long-term energy plan that seeks an end to nuclear power by 2040, responding to strong antinuclear sentiment but stopping short of a clear commitment to make the country nuclear-free. The plan, which comes after considerable backstage wrangling, largely rejects warnings from corporate Japan that moving away from nuclear power could hasten the hollowing out of the countrys battered manufacturing base. We will use all possible political resources to realize the goal of having no nuclear plants operating by the end of the 2030s, said the report released Friday by the governments energy and environmental committee. The long-awaited decision comes in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi crisis in March 2011 and follows moves by Germany last year to phase out its nuclear plants. But the plan is unlikely to appease opponents of nuclear power in the earthquake-prone country since it assumes that nuclear-energy production will actually rise from low levels now as some idled plants are gradually brought back on line. In addition, the government said that renouncing nuclear power will require more discussion. Achieving zero-nuclear status is an ambition, not a commitment, said a government official after a briefing. Under the policy, which still requires final endorsement by the cabinet, a new nuclear regulatory body will adopt toughened standards to ensure that plants are safe enough be restarted. But output isnt expected to return to the previous level of nearly 30% of electric output. That figure has fallen to 2.1% as only two reactors—both at a plant in western Japan—have been restarted in the past 18 months. As plants reach their life span of 40 years, the policy calls for them to be taken out of service, with all plants offline within the 2030s. In addition, no new plants will be built. The plan also said uranium enrichment and reprocessing would continue as discussions are held with local authorit