Sendai, Japan and the Resumption of Nuclear Power Generation on Taiwan

Sendai, Japan and the Resumption of Nuclear Power Generation on Taiwan
United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
August 13, 2015

Executive Summary: The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant Number One, in Kyushu, Japan went back online on August 11. It is expected to resume operation in mid August, ending Japan's nearly two year long "no nukes" regime. The Sendai One plant is the first nuclear power plant built to Japan's new safety standards since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Full Text Below:

The Sendai Nuclear Power Plant Number One, in Kyushu, Japan went back online on August 11. It is expected to resume operation in mid August, ending Japan's nearly two year long "no nukes" regime. The Sendai One plant is the first nuclear power plant built to Japan's new safety standards since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The restart of nuclear power generation is considered a major energy policy victory for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan suspended operation of all nuclear power plants. The Kansai Electric Power Company's Ohi Nuclear Power Plant was restarted briefly. But most of Japan remained in a "no nukes" condition. Now that the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant has been restarted, other power plants are also expected seek permission to restart. That makes this a major turning point for Japan's energy policy in the wake of the disaster of 3/11.

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan shut down all of its nuclear power plants. It was forced to rely on alternative power generation, with natural gas accounting for the lion's share. Japan imported large quantities of natural gas, exacerbating its trade deficit. Having re-embraced nuclear power, Japan can now reduce purchases of fuel from abroad. This will have a major impact on Abe's economic policies.

The restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant was greeted by vigorous protests and legal appeals. The process was troubled. Polls show that over half the people on Japan still oppose the restart of nuclear plant operations. Despite intense anti-nuclear sentiment, the Abe government has allowed the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant to resume operations. The decision involved emotions, reason, and legality. The Japanese government found it difficult to win over the public emotionally. But Japanese officials did their homework when it came to reason and legality.

Following the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan reformed its nuclear regulatory mechanisms. It established a Nuclear Regulation Authority to implement a more stringent nuclear regulatory regime. Review by the new mechanism confirmed that the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant would not be affected by tsunamis or active faults. Reactor waterproofing was improved, and emergency power supplies were increased to avoid a replay of the power outages and radioactive leaks resulting from the Fukushima power plant disaster. The restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant was approved by the Satsumasendai City Council in Kagoshima Prefecture, where the nuclear power plant is located. The Kagoshima District Court dismissed injuctions obtained by non-governmental organizations to prevent the restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. This completed the legal process.

In other words, Japanese official were unable to persuade the Japanese people to accept the restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. But they  devoted considerable attention to reason and legality.

The restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant provides a mirror for nuclear energy policy on Taiwan. Our own nuclear power generation policy remains stalled. Taiwan's energy policy remains on hold. This shows that people on Taiwan respond to nuclear issues purely on emotions. They completely ignore reason and legality.

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the public on Taiwan raised concerns about the safety of the Number Four Nuclear Power Plant. The government planned to conduct a thorough examination, submit a report, then hold a public referendum on whether to abolish nuclear power plants. But last year the Sunflower Student Movement protests and Lin Yi-hsiung's hunger strike put the government on the spot. Even though the Number Four Nuclear Power Plant passed muster, the Ma government did not bother with a referendum. It simply mothballed the Number Four Nuclear Power Plant on its own without bothering to consult anyone. It considered only emotions. It ignored legality. It betrayed an abysmal lack of resolve. It acted willy nilly, without any effort to solve the problem within the framework of the law. It simply mothballed the Number Fout Nuclear Power Plant, temporarily burying the controversy, Taiwan energy policy continues to mark time, or even retreat. Will Taiwan continue to use nuclear power? Will the three existing nuclear power plants remain in operation? No one bothers to ask. This can only be blamed on electoral politics and blue vs. green confrontation.

Taiwan is geographically similar to Japan. It too is surrounded by the sea. It too faces the threat of earthquakes. The Fukushima nuclear disaster provided Taiwan with a warning. The threat posed by earthquakes and tsunamis to nuclear power plants is worse than envisaged in the early years of nuclear power plant design. In-depth research on the threat posed by faultlines and tsunamis to nearby nuclear power plants remains lacking. Consider the Shanchiao Fault in northern Taiwan. This fault passes between the Number One and Number Two Nuclear Power Plants. and extends north all the way into the sea. But the government's study of the Sanchaio Fault was limited to the land portion. The section extending into the sea was investigated only by Taipower, which was limited by its ability and its funds. Its investigation has remained stalled.

Beginning next year, Taiwan will face a critical review of the Number One and Number Two Nuclear Power Plants, to determine whether thay should remain in operation. But a scientific investigation of the Sanchiao Fault is required. Without it, reliable data about the impact of tsunamis on these two nuclear power plants will be lacking. Nuclear power plant construction may be delayed. Public debate will surely be based on emotions rather than reason. How can any decisions made possibly be consistent with the greater good?

Energy policy is a multiple choice issue. not a true/false issue. Consideration must be given to safety, environmental protection, and cost. The trade-offs are difficult. Therefore the government's energy policy must consider emotions, reason, and the law. Only then can it ensure smooth, long-term benefits.

The restart of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant is an important step for Japan's post-Fukushima energy policy. We must ask ourselves why Taiwan cannot take the next step in energy policy. How long can Taiwan afford to keep spinning its wheels?

聯合／從日本川內核電廠重啟看台灣
2015-08-13 02:08:13 聯合報 聯合報社論

位於日本九州的川內核電廠一號機十一日上午重新啟動，預計八月中重新加入供電，結束日本近兩年的「零核電」情況。川內一號機是二○一一年福島核災後，首座符合日本「新安全標準」的核能機組。

這 次核電廠重啟，被視為日本首相安倍在能源政策上的一大勝利。原因是，福島核災後，日本暫停境內所有核電廠運作，其間雖有關西電力的大飯核電廠短暫重啟，但 多數時間日本都處於「零核電」狀態。川內核電廠重啟後，其他日本核電廠也將陸續申請重啟，所以，這是日本能源政策在三一一後一個重要的轉折點。

日本在福島核災後關閉所有核電廠，必須改以火力發電替代，又以天然氣為大宗；日本因此進口大量天然氣，故而貿易一度出現逆差。日本重新擁抱核電後，將可減少對外採購燃料支出，對於安倍拚經濟成果將有關鍵性影響。

川 內核電廠的重啟，歷經民間強力抗爭及司法訴訟，過程相當艱鉅；即使如此，民調顯示日本民眾反對核電廠重啟的比率仍超過五成。在這麼高的反核聲浪中，安倍政 府能讓川內核電廠恢復運轉，從情理法三個面向來看，除了在情感面上較難以說服民眾，日本官方在「理」跟「法」方面都下足了功夫。

首先，福 島核災後，日本改革核能監管機制，成立「原子力規制委員會」，實施更嚴格的核能監管機制。經過新機制的審核，確認川內核電廠不會受到海嘯、活斷層的影響， 並提升反應爐的防水功能，增加緊急電源，以免重蹈福島電廠遭海嘯侵襲後失去電源而爆發核災的覆轍。除此之外，川內核電廠重啟，也經過核電廠所在地鹿兒島縣 薩摩川內市議會同意，鹿兒島地方法院並駁回日本民間團體提出的禁止川內核電廠重啟的假處分，程序完備。

換言之，除了無法在情感上說服日本民眾接受川內核電廠重啟，日本官方在重啟川內核電廠過程中，相當重視「理」和「法」的層面，並作了充分努力。

川內核電廠的重啟，可作為台灣核能政策的一面鏡子。但以此檢視台灣的作法，不但顯示我國能源政策仍在原地踏步，也凸顯台灣處理核能議題只顧到「情」的層面，完全沒有「理」與「法」的思慮。

福 島核災後，國人對核四的疑慮升高，政府規畫先總體檢核四，提出報告後，再交由全民決定核四存廢。但去年在太陽花運動後，林義雄隨即進行禁食抗議，使政府進 退失據。儘管後來核四總體檢過關，但馬政府並未舉行公投，即逕自作成「封存」核四的決定。如此只顧情面、不顧法理的和稀泥，完全缺乏從制度層面解決核四爭 議的思維。核四封存，只是暫時掩埋了爭議，台灣能源政策則繼續原地踏步、甚至倒退。至於台灣未來要不要繼續使用核電，或現有的三座核電廠要不要延役，則陷 入無人聞問的狀態。這些，都不能不歸諸選舉政治與藍綠對峙所造成。

台灣與日本的地理環境類似，同樣四面環海，面臨地震威脅。福島核災給台 灣的警示是：地震與海嘯對核電廠的威脅，比早年核電廠設計時的設想還要嚴重。然而，台灣對於核電廠附近的斷層與海嘯研究，始終缺乏深入調查探究的決心，以 北台灣的「山腳斷層」為例，這條斷層行經核一廠與核二廠中間，一路向北延伸入海中。但目前我國官方對山腳斷層的研究僅限於陸地，延伸入海的部分交由台電調 查，但台電受限於能力與經費，調查根本停滯。

明年起，台灣將陸續面臨核一、核二廠能否延役的審查關鍵期。但是，如果缺少山腳斷層的科學調查，就不可能得到海嘯對兩座核電廠影響的可靠數據；屆時，核電廠能否延役，社會討論必然是感性壓過理性，又如何可能做出符合整體利益的決定？

能源政策是一道選擇題，而非是非題，必須在安全、環保與價格三方作出合適的考量。正因為取捨困難，政府的能源政策必須在情、理、法三方同步努力，才能長遠與順利的推動。

川內核電廠重啟代表日本能源政策邁出福島核災後的重要一步，我們必須反思：為何台灣遲遲跨不出能源政策的關鍵下一步？我們又還有多少時間可以原地踏步？