Abe resists calls for permanent closure of Japanese nuclear

• 10 years ago (2013-10-26)
• Junior Isles

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Shinzo Abe has dismissed former prime minister and political mentor Junichiro Koizumi’s suggestion that Japan move away from nuclear power generation.

In recent speeches, Koizumi has called for Japan to wean itself off nuclear energy and aim for a complete departure, as Germany has chosen.

“Most business leaders say it is irresponsible to call for zero nuclear plants,” the retired Koizumi said recently, “But it is even more irresponsible to promote nuclear power without any prospect of constructing disposal sites for nuclear waste.”

But Abe has rebutted the suggestions of his former mentor.

“I think it is irresponsible to promise zero (nuclear power plants) at this stage,” Abe said on a television programme broadcast this week.

Abe stated that Japan could not keep relying on thermal power generation indefinitely, despite its current role in replacing nuclear during the post-Fukushima safety shutdown.

“Koizumi is probably playing his hunch (in arguing for zero nuclear plants), but Japan is losing nearly 4 trillion yen ($41 billion) in national wealth a year,” Abe said, referencing the increased fuel costs Japan is paying to run thermal plants. “We will be in big trouble if this continues.”

Tadatomo Yoshida, leader of Japan’s Social Democratic Party, has pressed Abe to break away from nuclear energy, and has indicated he will ally himself with Koizumi and discuss how they can work together to end Japan's reliance on nuclear.

Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party’s executive committee, has also hinted that his party may form an alliance with Koizumi on the single issue of no nuclear plants.

Your Party chief Yoshimi Watanabe, Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the People’s Life Party, and former Prime Minister Naoto Kan of the Democratic Party of Japan have also shown support for Koizumi’s call for no nuclear plants.