About the restart of the Sendai nuclear power plant

On July 16, the Authority announced that the Sendai nuclear power plant, located south of the island of Kyushu (see map opposite: this is the island located at the extreme south-west of archipelago) met the new standard. Interviewed, the head of the Authority, Tanaka Shunitsi, said: " We examined the plant not in terms of its safety, but of its compliance with the standard. I'm not saying the plant is safe. Can't say she's safe"

Prime Minister Abe deliberately misinterpreted this statement by saying: “ We have taken a step forward. The Authority has examined the plant to the highest standard in the world and if on the basis of this examination it will be concluded that the plant is safe, I want to put it back into operation after receiving the approval of the communities concerned"

Many people criticize the head of the Authority and the prime minister. The main issues are:

1. This standard is by no means the strictest in the world. It does not require the reactor to be equipped with a corium catcher, which comes into operation when a meltdown of the reactor core occurs, nor that the safety containment have a double wall. Yet these are the most modern techniques, already at work in Europe.

2. Sendai is located near a large volcano and many geologists warn of the danger of a possible eruption threatening the plant, but the Authority ignored the warning and approved the preventive measures proposed by the company. 'electricity.

2. Approval* of plant restart by Kagoshima Prefecture and Satsuma-Sendai City.

    * Until now, it was accepted that if the two communities approved, the electricity company would have the right to restart the plant, but now the neighboring towns are demanding that the company hear them, too, because in the event of an accident they too would be affected.

3. After the fall, restarting the reactors.

Plant restart survey

59% oppose restarting Sendai nuclear power plant

(telephone survey conducted by the Asahi newspaper, July 26 and 27)

1. On the restart of the Sendai nuclear power plant:

Men: for: 33% against: 37%

Women: for: 13% against: 65%

Total: for: 23% against: 59%

2. On the safety of nuclear energy:

Can be considered safe, if technically well managed:

25%

36% (May 2011, after the Fukushima accident)

So dangerous, that men cannot make it safe:

63%

56% (May 2011, after the Fukushima accident)

3. The Prime Minister learned the lesson from the accident:

19%

The Prime Minister did not learn any lesson from the accident:

61%

 

Survey conducted in Satsuma-Sendai City

The “Society of Life – Farewell to Nuclear Energy” surveyed 1133 people in the city of Satsuma-Sendai where this nuclear power plant is located.

1. On the restart of the Sendai nuclear power plant:

For: 7%

Cons: 85%

2. Will the city progress with the nuclear power plant?

Will not progress: 68%

Will progress: 9%

Will or will not progress: 20%

The Prime Minister made the Kyushu Electricity Company the following promise: “Either way, I will manage to get the power plant working again.” But will he succeed so easily, when due to his militaristic policy the oppositions are multiplying?

 

source: Fukushima-blog.com

Further information :