Units 5, 6, and 7 of Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture
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Japan is currently in the midst of campaigns for an Upper House election. Meanwhile, all the political parties are pushing measures to combat rising prices over the short term. However, no one seems to be talking about the issues that should rank first in terms of medium- to long-term importance. For resource-poor Japan, the use of nuclear power must rank as a top priority along with food security.
Indeed, discussion of the need to restart nuclear power plants and the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) has been completely sucked out of the political air.
During this Upper House election, the attention of voters has been focused on soaring prices. Each political party has proposed various measures to ease the burden on household finances. But on the whole, these have not gone beyond prescriptions for treating the symptoms.
Power Consumption Certain to Keep Climbing
What accounts for the current high prices? One major factor is the delay in starting up nuclear power facilities.
If a nuclear power plant is shut down for a single day, ¥200 million to 300 million JPY ($1.4 million to 2 million USD) will be lost in fuel costs. Relying on thermal power plants that use imported fuel to produce the electricity that should be generated by nuclear power plants results in higher electricity bills. These additional costs in turn push up various other prices.
Japan had 54 nuclear power plants operating before 2011. But since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the total has been reduced to 33. Obtaining consent from local governments and implementing safety measures takes time and effort. So only 14 of the dormant plants have been restarted.
Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture has already passed the safety inspection conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Nevertheless, Niigata's governor has not made a clear statement of his stance on reopening the facility. Therefore, its status remains in limbo.
Restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, a major power source for the Tokyo metropolitan area, is an urgent issue. Why then is it not being discussed in the Upper House election?
It would be most unfortunate if the ruling parties continue to hesitate to support reopening of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. They should stop fearing the loss of votes due to lingering public aversion to nuclear power plants stemming from the Fukushima disaster. Instead, they should focus on the economic loss due to the current uncertainty.
Renewable Energy Cannot Meet the Need
Some opposition parties are vehemently opposed to nuclear power. Yet they have not presented any convincing alternative proposals for ensuring a stable supply of electricity. How would they cope with the power shortages predicted due to the extreme heatwave this summer? Solar power generation cannot perform to its full potential on tropical nights.
Moreover, a significant increase in electricity consumption is also expected at the industrial level. Expanding uses of artificial intelligence and construction of new data centers to support them, as well as the growth of the semiconductor industry, demand enormous amounts of electricity. Indeed, demand for electricity is forecast to accelerate due to such trends.
Renewable energy sources have variable output depending on the weather. The frequency of their power deliveries to factories is easily disrupted. Such electricity supplies are not suitable for the ultra-precision manufacturing processes demanded by semiconductors. Initiatives that would scrap nuclear power plants, which offer stable output, are too short-sighted.
Recycling Spent Fuel
In the past, Japan has achieved economic growth through the use of energy-efficient nuclear power generation. As a result, spent fuel has accumulated over many years of operation. Specifically, unused HLW is separated during the process of recycling spent fuel.
Geological disposal involves encasing the waste tightly in glass. Multiple leak protection measures are added, and then it is buried in bedrock more than 300 meters underground.
Spent fuel rods are typically stored in spent fuel pools at each nuclear power plant. However, if these pools become full, nuclear power plant operations will come to a standstill.
Geological disposal is therefore necessary. Also, projects to implement such a burial process with due regard for scientific safety are underway in Finland and Sweden.
In Japan, suitable sites for geological disposal are being selected through a three-stage preliminary investigation system. The towns of Suttsu and Kamoenai in Hokkaido have completed the initial phase of "literature surveys" to select disposal sites. The focus is now on moving to the next stage, "preliminary surveys."
This Upper House election coincides with a critical period for the geological disposal project. Despite this, only the ruling parties and the Democratic Party for the People have shown a positive stance on this issue in their campaign pledges.
That is unfortunate since the election represents a golden opportunity to get all voters to think about the final disposal of HLW as a matter that concerns them personally.
Essential to an Economic Path Forward
The two communities in Hokkaido need to proceed with their preliminary investigations. If they do not, the geological disposal project will suffer a severe setback. That in turn would cast a long shadow over the future of nuclear power generation in Japan.
In fact, if geological disposal is not realized, nuclear power generation will come to a standstill and Japan's path to a sustainable future will reach a dead end. The current election is an excellent opportunity to discuss energy security in Japan.
Charting a suitable course forward for the nation is not possible without discussing nuclear power policy. Hopefully, the ruling and opposition parties will deepen their discussions regarding energy as the election campaign draws to a close.
Japan must address the restart of nuclear power plants and geological disposal. If the politicians abdicate their responsibility to do so, the decline of national power and a bleak future will be all that awaits us.
RELATED:
- Japan's Economic Security Moment: Turning Resilience into Strategic Advantage
- Upper House Election to Focus on Rising Prices and Japan's Role in the World
- IAEA Upbeat, but Niigata Governor Delays Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Restart
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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