Yukio Edano OKs Restart of Construction of New Reactors in Aomori, Shimane

Yukio "There is no immediate effect on health" Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry who will have technically lost his portfolio on nuclear issues come September 19 (when the new Nuclear Regulatory Commission under Goshi Hosono's ministry takes over the nuclear regulatory oversight from NISA), approved the resumption of construction of two new reactors.

So much for the Noda administration's "pledge" to have zero nuclear power plant operating in 2030. (We're just shocked. Shocked, aren't we?)

From Yomiuri Shinbun (9/15/2012):

経産相、大間原発・島根３号機の建設を容認

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry allows the construction of Ooma Nuke Plant, Reactor 3 at Shimane

　枝野経済産業相は１５日、青森県の三村申吾知事や原子力施設のある市町村の首長らと青森市で会談し、東日本大震災後に工事を中断した電源開発大間(おおま)原子力発電所（青森県大間町）と中国電力島根原発３号機（松江市）の建設再開・稼働を事実上、容認する考えを伝えた。

On September 15, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano held a meeting in Aomori City with Governor of Aomori Prefecture Shingo Mimura and the mayors of municipalities where nuclear facilities are located, and told them that he would allow the resumption of construction and operation of Ooma Nucleaer Power Plant by Electric Power Development Co.,Ltd. (in Ooma-cho, Aomori Prefecture) and Reactor 3 of Shimane Nucleaer Power Plant by Chugoku Electric Power Company (in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture).

両原発の建設が再開されれば、震災後初めての原発建設となる。

It would be the first construction of nuclear reactors after the March 11, 2011 disaster.

　政府は１４日に決めた「革新的エネルギー・環境戦略」に、２０３０年代に原発の稼働をゼロにする目標を明記した。運転期間を４０年とする政府の原則に従えば、建設を再開した原発は５０年代まで稼働できることになり、新たなエネルギー戦略の矛盾を早くも露呈する形となった。

In the "Revolutionary strategy for energy and environment" that was agreed upon on September 14, the national government clearly set the target to have zero nuclear reactors operating in 2030. If the government rule of 40 years of operation is applied, these nuclear reactors would be allowed to operate into 2050, which would be a contradiction to the new energy strategy.

　枝野氏は会談で「原子炉の設置と工事計画許可が与えられている原発について、経産省の立場として変更は考えていない」と述べ、１９日に発足する原子力規制委員会が安全を確認すれば、建設再開・稼働を認める方針を示した。

Mr. Edano said in the meeting, "As to the nuclear power plants with permits for installing a reactor and for construction plan, we as Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are not thinking of any change", indicating the intention to allow the resumption of construction and operation once the Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirms safety. The Commission will be installed on September 19.

　建設中の原発は、大間、島根３号機のほか、東京電力東通(ひがしどおり)原発１号機（青森県東通村）がある。ただ、東通１号機について、枝野氏は「東電が原子力について議論できる段階ではまだない」と述べており、建設再開の対象にはならないとみられる。

In addition to Ooma Nuclear Power Plant and Reactor 3 of Shimane Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 1 of Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant is also under construction by TEPCO (in Higashidori-mura, Aomori Prefecture). However, Mr. Edano said of Higashidori's Reactor 1, "TEPCO is not in a position yet to discuss nuclear energy", indicating that the resumption of construction of Higashidori Reactor 1 would be unlikely at this time.

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