Police and security guards lined up in front of the main entrance to the nuclear power plant Sendai 1 when restarted.
The restart of Japanese nuclear power plant Sendai 1 welcomed by the nuclear industry. But that is not what determines the future of nuclear power, says Tomas Kåberger.
– If you now successful launch of a larger number of reactors in Japan without major problems gives a good rating to the Japanese nuclear industry, they manage to keep the reactors in good condition while the mothballed. But for the future of nuclear power internationally, it has no meaning. It will depend on how the new reactor builds, for example, the United States and China are performing financially, in relation to other energy technologies. Should it however happen further any incident or accident with the Japanese nuclear power would have a major negative impact, says Tomas Kåberger, professor, member of the Japan Renewable Energy Fund and former Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency.
Kärnkraftbranschens international lobby organization World Nuclear Association sees, however, the Japanese re-start as very important for the future of nuclear power:
– It’s about to regain people’s trust. The Japanese people need to see that the reactors operate efficiently and reliably, says Agneta Rising, Director General of the World Nuclear Association said in a statement. She also states that Japan, with 43 reactors are a vital part of the global industry and that the stop in Japan has also been felt by other members.
The background is that all Japanese nuclear power plants gradually ceased operations after the accident in Fukushima 2011. The country has been heavily dependent on nuclear power for its energy supply because it lacks its own assets in energy commodity. After the stop, Japan has been importing expensive natural gas for electricity generation and also made big energy savings.
The government recently decided that nuclear power plants would be restarted if they passed new, stricter safety requirements, despite a strong public protest. According to Tomas Kåberger is the government’s decision on fear of economic chaos:
– Each of the eight regions in the country have an energy company monopoly. Between regions is no common power exchange or replacement. The reactors are very highly valued assets in energy companies. Added the down forced the companies to write down their assets and perhaps fail. This would also banks dragged into the case and the risk does not dare the government to take.
Self-participating Tomas Kåberger in efforts to develop renewable Energy in Japan:
– The country has large own natural resources for wind and solar power. All other energy is forced to import.
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