Nuclear power important for Japan -industry chief

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Nuclear power important for Japan -industry chief

TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - Nuclear power will remain an important 
source of energy for Japan, and Germany's decision to shut down 
nuclear power cannot be automatically applied to Japan, the head of 
Japan's power industry said on Friday. 

The circumstances that Japan faces are different from Germany, Hiroji 
Ohta, chairman of the Federation of Electric Power Companies, told 
reporters. 

For example Japan, unlike Germany, does not have the option of 
turning to neighbouring countries for electricity supply, Ohta said. 

``I think nuclear power is an important source of energy that we must 
continue to develop very carefully,'' he said. 

On Thursday, Germany's government and electricity industry agreed on 
a plan aimed at launching the fastest withdrawal from nuclear power 
by a major industrial country. 

The deal sets a total lifespan of 32 years for each of Germany's 19 
nuclear power stations, longer than the government wanted but shorter 
than industry's demand. Japan, like Germany, depends on nuclear power 
for roughly a third of its electricity supply. 

Japan, which has 51 commercial nuclear reactors, is expected to 
reduce its target for the construction of new nuclear reactors as 
part of a sweeping review of the nation's long-term energy policy 
currently taking place. 

However, it is unlikely to decide to scrap nuclear power totally 
despite mounting public criticism of the nuclear industry after a 
series of accidents. 

Japan's worst nuclear accident occurred at a uranium processing plant 
last September and resulted in the deaths of two workers exposed to 
radiation. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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