JAIF President Takahashi Hopes “Considerate Activities” Will Be Made toward Restarting Tokai-2 to Promote Understanding

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On February 28, President Akio Takahashi of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) gave his monthly press briefing. Asked about the announcement by Hitachi, Ltd. In January that it was freezing its project to construct two new nuclear power plants in Wales in the UK, he stressed the difficulties and risks that the private sector faces in carrying out such a project. He expressed his hope that the frozen project in Britain might eventually be “thawed out” in light of the “energy circumstances” there

Asked next about the development of next-generation nuclear reactors, President Takahashi cited “various movements overseas” when mentioning that “the downsizing of light water reactors (LWRs) is a step ahead.” He talked about expectations for efforts to commercialize high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), as well as about new ideas and technological capabilities to be demonstrated by manufacturers, which he had outline in a message in May 2018. He also expressed his concern that little progress had been made in siting efforts in Japan.

As for reaching the national goal of 20 to 22 percent for nuclear power in Japan’s desired 2030 energy mix, President Takahashi cited the need to restart boiling water reactors (BWRs), along with the importance of making progress in the safety examinations being carried out by the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan (NRA) while simultaneously obtaining understanding from local communities.

Asked about the statement made by the Japan Atomic Power Co. (JAPC) to local municipalities of its intention to restart the Tokai-2 Nuclear Power Plant (BWR, 1100MWe), President Takahashi stressed that “Tokaimura is something of a ‘mecca for nuclear energy.’ In light of the history of long-term relationships with local areas, I want the company to exert efforts toward making considerate activities to promote understanding.”