Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 8 - 14 [ENVIRONMENT]

JCP local assemblypersons call on KEPCO to close NPPs

Thirteen local assembly members of the Japanese Communist Party and Dietmembers Yoshii Hidekatsu and Miyamoto Takeshi on June 13 visited the Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) head office in Osaka City to urge the company to take steps to close its nuclear power plants.

Yoshii pointed out, “Lake Biwa, the water reservoir for the Kinki region, is located within a radius of 15-20 kilometers from KEPCO’s nuclear facilities. If an accident occurs, the damage could be immense.”

Yoshii emphasized, “Now is the time to decide to move away from nuclear energy to new energy sources.”

Referring to KEPCO’s request for a 15%-power cut as an energy-saving measure, Yoshii stated that the utility has an obligation to stably provide electricity and demanded that KEPCO release convincing data to support its decision.

A KEPCO official responded, “In order to sustain the stable supply of energy in the future, nuclear energy generation is an important source.” The official promised the JCP representatives to disclose to the public details about KEPCO’s nuclear power-generating capacity and its available output.

The JCP local assembly members represent constituencies in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Wakayama, and Shiga prefectures.