Japan's Minister of Economy Motegi Says "Contaminated Water from #Fukushima I NPP Isn't Leaking into Open Ocean"

The ex-McKinsey management consultant never ceases to entertain (albeit in a bad way).

The last I heard Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi was when he said there would be more space to install storage tanks for contaminated water once Reactors 5 and 6 at Fukushima I NPP were decommissioned, casting doubt about his intelligence level. He was also pontificating over the talk between TEPCO and the governor of Niigata regarding Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP's application for safety review, as if it were none of his problem (it was, and is, and will be).

Now, according to the short and sweet two-line article from Jiji Tsushin (10/22/2013), Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi, who is also in charge, unfortunately, of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident management and plant decommissioning, thinks the contaminated water from the plant is not leaking into the open ocean:

茂木敏充経済産業相は２２日午前の衆院予算委員会で、東京電力福島第１原発の汚染水について「外洋に漏れているわけではない」と述べた。日本維新の会の松野頼久氏への答弁。

In the Lower House Budget Committee meeting in the morning of October 22, Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, said about the contaminated water from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, "It's not that it is leaking into the open ocean." It was in response to the question by Yorihisa Matsuno of Japan Restoration Party.

Implication is that therefore it's sort of OK, as no international entities are injured by the contaminated water from Fukushima I Nuke Plant.

Now, what's the definition of the word "外洋" Motegi used?

It literally means "outer ocean". But consulting an online dictionary for the usage of the word, "外洋" could mean in Japanese:

1. ocean: a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

2. international (open) waters: the open seas of the world outside the territorial waters of any nation

"Territorial waters" could mean any of the following:

1. Territorial waters: 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometers) from the baseline;

2. Contiguous waters: 12 nautical miles outside the territorial waters;

3. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 nautical miles (370.4 kilometers) from the baseline.

"International waters" could mean just outside the territorial waters, or contiguous waters, or exclusive economic zone. I am pretty sure Mr. Motegi wants the international water to start as far away from the Fukushima coastline as possible.

Just like the French minister who famously declared the radioactive plume from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident stopped at the French border, Mr. Motegi perhaps thinks radioactive materials know territorial boundaries and behave accordingly.

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Weekend Fun and Farce -2: Minister of Economy Says "More Space for Tanks if Reactors 5 and 6 Are Decommissioned" at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant

Minister Motegi, ex-McKinsey management consultant whose most recent utterance about Fukushima I Nuclear Plant was that the contaminated water problems are not because of lack of money or faulty engineering but because of TEPCO and the plant workers not working hard enough, seems to think decommissioning a nuclear reactor is just like dismantling a factory line.

According to the Yomiuri article below, Minister Toshimitsu Motegi seems very confident that decommissioning of Reactors 5 and 6 will be finished way before the end of fiscal 2014 (March 31, 2015) with reactors, equipments, and buildings all removed, and the space can be used to install more tanks to store contaminated water until that water is completely treated by the end of fiscal 2014.

This is the minister in charge of the national government being "at the forefront" of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.

And he screams, as always, "Accelerate! Ahead of schedule!"

From Yomiuri Shinbun (9/20/2013):

５・６号機廃炉ならタンク増設できる…経産相

If Reactors 5 and 6 are decommissioned, more tanks can be installed, says Minister of Economy

茂木経済産業相は２０日の閣議後記者会見で、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所５、６号機の廃炉を安倍首相が要請したことについて「５、６号機は（廃炉が決まっている）１～４号機と極めて似た構造を持っている。５、６号機の実機を使えば訓練もできる」と述べ、１～４号機の廃炉などの事故処理を加速できるとの認識を示した。

During the press conference on September 20 after the cabinet meeting, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi commented on Prime Minister Abe's request [to TEPCO] to decommission Reactors 5 and 6 at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. He said, "Reactors 5 and 6 have very similar structures to Reactors 1-4 (which are being decommissioned). Training can be done on the actual reactors," thus accelerating the process of decommissioning Reactors 1-4.

汚染水処理については「５、６号機の廃炉で出来る空きスペースに、汚染水のタンク増設を行うことができる」と語った。２０１４年度内に貯蔵タンク内の汚染水を浄化することに改めて意欲を示し、「前倒しできることは、全て前倒しする」と強調した。

As to the contaminated water treatment, he said, "In the empty space created by decommissioning Reactors 5 and 6, we can build additional tanks to store contaminated water." He expressed his desire again to have all contaminated water stored in the tanks treated by the end of fiscal 2014, and emphasized he would "do anything ahead of schedule that can be done ahead of schedule".

"Happy", one of several workers who have been tweeting from the plant since the beginning of the accident, gently reminds his followers that:

• Spent fuel assemblies in the Spent Fuel Pools of Reactors 5 and 6 should be removed first, and that won't happen until July 2014 at the earliest (tweet);

• After spent fuel assemblies are removed, dismantling will start with equipments and pipes with low contamination. It will be at least 10 years before we start dismantling the reactors themselves. (tweet)

• In dismantling a reactor, pipes and equipments in the primary line will be chemically cleaned and decontaminated, but dismantling doesn't happen at least until 5 years pass. (tweet)

• It's because Cobalt-60, major source of radiation for pipes and equipment, has the half life of about 5 years. (tweet)

• Even the decommissioning of small-scale or experimental reactors like the one in Tokai-mura is problematic, with unforeseen problems. (tweet)

I would suggest Mr. Motegi or his secretary follow these workers on Twitter.

I do feel sorry for TEPCO managers who have to kowtow to politicians like Motegi.

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METI Blames TEPCO and Workers for Contaminated Water Leak at #Fukushima I Nuke Plant, Says They Are Not Working Hard Enough

According to Minister Toshmitsu Motegi, former McKinsey consultant who doesn't look the part, leaks of contaminated water happening recently at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant are not caused by faulty engineering or lack of money, but by TEPCO and the workers at the plant not working hard enough.

I guess lazy workers caused the land to sink, then.

Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant is sustained (barely, but nonetheless) by workers from TEPCO and affiliate companies, some of whom are paid as little as $100 a day to work in a highly contaminated environment.

In addition to radiation exposure, they get the blame.

From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/26/2013):

東電に汚染水専門チーム設置を指示へ…経産相

Minister of Economy to order TEPCO to set up a team dedicated to contaminated water issues

東京電力福島第一原子力発電所で汚染水を巡るトラブルが相次いでいる問題で、経済産業省は２６日、東電に対して、汚染水対策の専門チームの設置など対策強化を求める。

As problems of contaminated water happen one after another at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is set to demand TEPCO on August 26 to set up a team dedicated to devising countermeasures against contaminated water.

茂木経産相が同日午後、福島第一原発を訪れて指示する。

Minister Motegi will visit Fukushima I Nuke Plant in the afternoon on August 26 and give instructions to TEPCO.

福島第一原発の貯蔵タンクから汚染水３００トンが漏れた問題について、経産省は、日常の点検不備など、東電の人為的ミスの側面が強いとみている。「技術・資金の問題というよりも、現場の対応力の問題」などと指摘しており、東電に対する監視体制も強化する方針だ。

About the leak of 300 tonnes of contaminated water from a storage tank at the plant, Ministry of Economy thinks it was caused more by human errors on the part of TEPCO, such as insufficient daily inspections. The Ministry points out, "It's a matter of ability [of the workers] to respond at the plant, rather than technology or money." The Ministry plans to strengthen the oversight on TEPCO.

東電の社内では、これまで汚染水関係の専門家の発言力が低かったとされている。このため、専門チームには、汚染水対策の知見が深いゼネコンなどに、助言を求めることも検討する。

It is said that experts in contaminated water have little say within TEPCO. The Ministry is considering having general contractors with deep knowledge of how to deal with contaminated water in the team.

What kind of joke is this? General contractors with deep knowledge of how to deal with contaminated water?

It was one of those knowledgeable general contractors or two who drove down the sheet piles in the artificial soil and in the port, destabilizing the underground trenches and probably causing the release of contaminated water in the surrounding soil. It was one of those knowledgeable general contractors who built the concrete platform for the RO waste tanks that weigh 1,000 tonnes a piece when full. The platform cracked and sank.

Yet another general contractor did the injection of waterglass along the embankment made of artificial soil, which caused the groundwater to rise and flow over the underground waterglass wall.

And "oversight" from the very ministry whose lack of knowledge and initiative as the nuclear regulatory authority (NISA was under this ministry) after the accident contributed greatly to the haphazard, patchwork countermeasures at the plant? (Approving TEPCO's plan to store the RO waste water in the in-the-ground ponds comes to mind.)

Motegi also says the national government (i.e. his Ministry, in particular Agency of Natural Resources and Energy whose official talked about his "assumption" of "300 tonnes of contaminated groundwater" leak) will be in charge.

As if it's a good thing.

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"The Parties Concerned Should Talk Things Out First" Over Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP, Says Minister of Economy

It is as if the government is not involved at all, and Minister Motegi is simply dispensing a piece of advice. Quite fitting for this former McKinsey consultant.

TEPCO wants to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, as the company is bleeding to death unless Fukushima decommissioning is somehow separated from the core business of generating electricity. The company is told by the national government, its largest shareholder, to win consensus from the parties involved, including the governor of Niigata.

Governor Hirohiko Izumida of Niigata Prefecture wants to delay the restart until safety is assured (which will never happen, as there is no 100% safety), but he has no legal or regulatory authority over the plant; he doesn't have a say in the new regulatory guidelines by Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa-mura want to have the plant restarted, as their economy depends heavily on the plant. They have just agreed to TEPCO's submitting the application to Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

There are Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Nuclear Regulatory Agency under the Ministry of the Environment that do the risk assessment, and there is Agency for Natural Resources and Energy under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry　that promotes nuclear energy, and there is the Ministry of Education and Science that oversees some of the nuclear operators in Japan. Prime Minister Abe is busy top-selling Japanese-made (and probably Japanese-operated) nuclear reactors and plants.

No one in charge.

From Jiji Tsushin (8/2/2013):

安全確認「速やかに」＝東電柏崎刈羽原発－茂木経産相

Confirmation of safety "ASAP" for TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP, says Minister of Economy Motegi

茂木敏充経済産業相は２日の閣議後記者会見で、東京電力柏崎刈羽原発６、７号機（新潟県）の安全審査申請に関連し、「原子力規制委員会による評価がしっかりと、速やかに実施されることは安全確認の観点から望ましい」と述べ、早期申請が必要との認識を示した。

During the press conference after the August 2 cabinet meeting, Toshmitsu Motegi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to the application for safety evaluation for Reactors 6 and 7 at TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (in Niigata Prefecture) and said, "It is desirable from the viewpoint of confirming safety that the evaluation by Nuclear Regulatory Authority will be done solidly and promptly", indicating his understanding that the application needs to be submitted soon.

新潟県の泉田裕彦知事は、東電が安全審査の申請方針を決めたことに強く反発している。経産相は「まずは当事者間でしっかり議論を進めてもらうことが必要だ」と指摘。その上で「再稼働では立地自治体の理解を得るよう努力することが重要だ」と述べた。

Governor of Niigata Hirohiko Izumida is strongly offended that TEPCO has decided to apply for the evaluation. Minister Motegi said, "It is necessary for the parties concerned to talk things out first. Then, it is important to make effort in obtaining the understanding of the municipalities with the nuclear plant for the restart."

Mr. Motegi, you and your ministry as well as your boss, PM Abe, are one of the "parties concerned".

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#Nuclear Japan: Minister of Economy Declares (Again) Nuke Plant Researt in Fall, NRA Self-Congratulates on Its "World Toughest Safety Standard"

The minister who also ordered Fukushima decommissioning to be done "ahead of schedule" says nuclear power plants will be restarted in fall, and that it will be up to the NRA to decide. He said the same thing back in April. I guess he subscribes to the idea that if you keep repeating it it will happen.

How a group of paltry 80 people at Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Authority/Agency can adequately assess the safety of nuclear power plants in less than 3 months is a mystery to me. One of the NRA's commissioners said it will take about six months (even that looks short), but he was thinking of inspecting only a few nuclear plants.

Nuke plant operators are set to flood the NRA with requests for restart. Here's Hokkaido Electric Power Company submitting restart requests for all three reactors. Good luck, NRA. You asked for it.

Jiji Tsushin (6/20/2013) reports:

原発再稼働「今秋にも」＝茂木経産相

Minister of Economy Motegi says nuclear plant restart will be as early as this fall

茂木敏充経済産業相は20日夜、BS―TBSの番組収録で、7月8日に施行される新たな規制基準に基づく原発の再稼働時期について「一番早ければあり得るのは秋になる。冬になるかもしれないし、原子力規制委員会の判断だ」と述べ、最短で今秋の再稼働があり得るとの認識を改めて示した。　

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi said in the evening of June 20 during the recording of a BS-TBS TV program that the restart of nuclear power plants under the new regulatory standard that will become effective on July 8 will be "in the fall at the earliest. It could be in winter. It's up to the NRA to decide." The earliest restart may be this fall, according to him.

I just can't help laughing at the station name. I know "BS" stands for "broadcast satellite", but to me "BS" stands for "BS", you know. (It is not Bachelor of Science either.)

By the way, NRA is very proud that it has managed to create, at least in their minds, the toughest safety standard for nuclear power plants in the world, in less than 10 months since the establishment of the organization. I don't know what basis the chairman and commissioners claim their standard to be the world toughest. I guess non-experts like us are supposed to take their words for it.

From Jiji (6//19/2013):

新基準「狙い通りできた」＝規制委の田中委員長

New standard "exactly what we intended", says NRA chairman Tanaka

原子力規制委員会の田中俊一委員長は１９日の定例会見で、同日決定した原発の新たな規制基準について「世界でも一番厳しい基準づくりに取り組んできたが、狙い通りのものができた。これから具体的に適用していく段階で基準の真価が問われる」と述べた。

NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said during the regular press conference on June 19 that the new regulatory standard for nuclear power plant that was decided on that day was "exactly what we intended, as we have been doing our best to come up with the toughest standard in the world. The true test of the new standard will come when we actually apply it."

田中委員長は「世界の人から見ると、紙に書いた基準だけでなく、一番足りないのは安全文化だと言われる」と指摘。「安全文化の問題は一朝一夕でできるものではないが、今までと違う厳しい規制をする中で、事業者が『これは自分たちの考え通りにはいかない』とか『安全とはこういうものだ』と体験して身に付けていくのではないか」と期待した。

Chairman Tanaka said, "We are told by people around the world that what's missing most [in Japan] is not just standards written down on paper but the safety culture." "The safety culture cannot be built overnight, but as the tough new standard is being enforced, I hope nuclear plant operators will learn that things may not work out the way they want, and they will experience what it is to be safe", Tanaka said.

Good luck with your "hope", Dr. Tanaka. Don't you know "hope" has been a dirty 4-letter word? Besides, I thought all Japan had before the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident was the safety culture - plant operators, regulators, and nuclear experts felt so safe that they decided not to think about anything bad, like a nuclear accident or 10-meter high tsunami.

The "world toughest safety standard" for nuclear power plants in Japan will become effective as of July 8, 2013, "ahead of schedule". The original schedule was July 18, 2013. To officially have this new standard 10 days earlier than planned is for some unknown reason considered a good thing.

Ever since LDP took back power under the prime minister with chronic stomach ailment, "ahead of schedule" seems to be in vogue.

So that they can all run to the toilet, I suppose, with Prime Minister Abe at the head of the pack.

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#Radioactive Japan: Minister of Economy Declares on TV That Nuke Plants Will Restart As Soon As This Fall

The ex-McKinsey consultant minister has been very bullish on things nuclear for some reason. He has already declared that decommissioning of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant will be done ahead of schedule of the current roadmap plan of 30 to 40 years. Never mind IAEA (later).

From Jiji Tsushin (4/23/2013):

秋にも原発再稼働＝茂木経産相

Nuclear power plants may restart in fall, says Minister of Economy Motegi

茂木敏充経済産業相は２３日夜、ＢＳジャパンの番組に出演し、原発再稼働の時期に関して「（早ければ）今年の秋になる」との見通しを示した。経産相は根拠として「原子力規制委員会の新規制基準が７月１８日に出来上がる。事業者が申請して安全が確認できれば再稼働となる」と説明した。

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi appeared in a program on BS Japan [BS stands for Broadcast Satellite] on April 23 night, and shared his view regarding the restart of nuclear power plant, saying "It will be (as soon as) this fall." Minister Motegi explained, as the basis for his view, "New regulatory standards by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority will have been compiled by July 18. Then the operators will apply [for restart], and if the safety is confirmed the nuclear plants will restart."

原発を抱える地元の理解が重要だが、茂木経産相は「そのための努力はしていく」と述べ、安全確認後に立地自治体との調整を進める考えを示した。現在、関西電力大飯原発３、４号機（福井県おおい町）が全国で唯一稼働している。

The understanding of the municipalities where nuclear power plants are located will be important, but Minister Motegi said, "We will make an effort [to obtain the understanding]", signaling the plan to coordinate with the municipalities after the safety is confirmed. Currently, only one nuclear power plant is in operation in Japan, which is KEPCO's Ooi Nuclear Power Plant (Ooi-cho, Fukui Prefecture).

I like the name of the TV station. BS Japan. Priceless.

I don't quite understand why it is this minister's business to even speak about nuclear power plant restart. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority is under the Ministry of the Environment. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which was under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has been abolished.

Jiji Tsushin seems to have all but forgotten that in the Fukushima I Nuke Plant accident, areas far wider than the municipalities where the nuclear power plant was located (Futaba-machi, Okuma-machi) have been affected when it says "The understanding of the municipalities where nuclear power plants are located will be important".

Long-term memory (more than 1 year), not to mention critical thinking, is not what "Cool Japan" is about, anyway.

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