Hamaoka Nuke Plant, which sits on a soft rock right by the beach, wouldn't need a big tsunami from a big earthquake to get knocked out. All it would take is an earthquake the size that's anticipated in the region (Tokai) for a long time and which is said to be overdue.
Even the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident was not caused by the tsunami. It was the earthquake that knocked down the only power transmission tower that supplied electricity to the plant, and that was the beginning of the crisis at the plant that has affected wide areas in the entire northern hemisphere. Of all the TEPCO's power transmission towers, that was the only tower that fell down.
But never mind the details like that. The embattled PM Naoto Kan would do anything and everything to show to people in Japan that he's in charge, and he "requested" Hamaoka Nuke Plant be stopped because "it does not have adequate measures against the tsunami that may be generated after a big Tokai earthquake.
By the time the tsunami from the big quake hits Hamaoka, there may be not much left to sweep away.
Yomiuri reports (5/7/2011) that:
菅首相は６日夜、首相官邸で記者会見し、中部電力浜岡原子力発電所（静岡県御前崎市）のすべての原子炉の運転停止を、海江田経済産業相を通じて中部電力に要請したと発表した。
Prime Minister Kan held a press conference at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and announced that he had requested Chubu Electric Power Company to halt all the reactors at its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant (Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture). The request was conveyed to Chubu Electric by Minister of Economy and Industry Kaieda.理由として、静岡県を中心とする東海地震の発生確率が高いとされる中、防波壁の設置など津波対策強化の必要性を指摘した上で、「国民の安全と安心 を考えた。重大な事故が発生した場合の日本社会全体の甚大な影響もあわせて考慮した」と説明した。中部電力も首相の要請を受け入れる方向だ。
As to the reason for the request, Kan pointed out the necessity for stronger measures against tsunami such as breakwater because of the high likelihood of a Tokai earthquake centered in Shizuoka Prefecture, and said "It is for the safety and security for the citizens. I also considered the grave effect on the Japanese society if a serious accident were to happen [at Hamaoka Plant]. Chubu Electric is likely to obey the Prime Minister's request.
The Prime Minster's "request" has no legal basis nor power of enforcement.
Goshi Hosono, the PM's assistant who had said they "didn't feel like announcing" that there was probably a core meltdown at Fukushima, said of his boss' decision that "it was a political decision because of very high probability (84% probability within the next 30 years) of the Tokai earthquake". Right. And natural disasters like earthquake and tsunami will be prevented by that political decision.
Haven't they learned anything in the past 7 weeks or so? Betting on a high probability wouldn't have stopped the earthquake of March 11 (which had been assigned a very, very low probability) and tsunami (also assigned a very, very low probability), or the complete shut down of the power of any source (assigned a very, very, very low probability close to zero).
The opposition groups against Hamaoka Nuke Plant are some of the most vocal, visible, and the most organized of all the groups in Japan that oppose nuclear power plants. Kan must have figured it would be very easy to score some points with these groups.
As for Hamaoka, as this blog has pointed out in the past (here and here), the plant sits on an active fault or two, practically on the beach. The Tokai earthquake itself and the resulting liquefaction would knock the plant out before tsunami would come. (And Godzilla will come...)
30-Day free trial by following the link.
Tokyo Time
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_2.gif)
3 comments:
Is it possible they are just using tsunami as a pretext to close the plants? Who knows when they will open again, if they are shut down.
Kan might gain favor with certain anti-Nuke groups but won't he also lose money from certain other corporate interests and so on? There is a lot of industry in the Chubu region. This seems a very serious, high stakes move.
I wonder what is going on behind the scenes.
Kan thinks it's win-win. He needs some popularity boost, and Hamaoka is such an obvious, and high-probability (according to the scholars who missed big time on March 11 earthquake) danger and it's not hard to be against it, not just for Kan but for many people.
What amazes me more is Chubu Electric's willingness to acquiesce to a request with no legal binding. That's one very profit-oriented company, just like TEPCO if not more. They wouldn't agree to a shut down unless they are richly rewarded in other ways from the government, i.e. at the expense of taxpayers as the government is broke about 3 times over.
And very highly hypocritical of the Governor of Shizuoka, who suddenly thinks the plant shut down is good for people. He was all for re-starting the reactor 3 (mox fuel) back in March after the quake.
I wish they all go within 5 kilometers of Fukushima I Nuke Plant and feed cows and pigs and ostriches. That's about their worth.
Robbie001 sez:
The Governor of Shizuoka should be part of the crew delivering the Mega Float. He could connect the water hoses once they got to the stricken plant to show his support for nuclear power. I would imagine Chubu may be looking for some PR good will and between the US and Japanese government they'll be compensated for their actions.
Post a Comment