Japan to proceed with nuclear policy-industry body

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

Friday November 12, 5:13 am Eastern Time

Japan to proceed with nuclear policy-industry body

TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Federation of Electric Power companies 
said on Friday that Japan's nuclear policy would proceed despite the 
nation's worst-ever nuclear accident at a uranium processing plant on 
September 30. ``The basic direction that Japan needs to push nuclear 
power policy has been unchanged, although the accident may force a 
delay in some of the nation's nuclear projects to some extent,'' 
Hiroji Ota, the Federation's chairman told a press conference.  

Ota said that Japan lacks natural resources and has no way but to go 
ahead with the nuclear energy policy.  

The government has come under fire for lax supervision, an inept 
response to the accident and for poor disaster preparation at the 
plant in Tokaimura, 140 km from Tokyo.  

Meanwhile, Ota said the millennium computer bug will not cause any 
problems at Japan's electric power stations.  

``All electric power firms completed all safety measures to tackle 
the computer bug as of today, '' Ota said.  

All electric power firms have completed steps, including simulation 
tests, to combat the computer bug problems and the tests  
ensured no disruption will occur, he said.

Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/scperle

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