At today's conference, I would like to discuss the electric power
industry's response to the accident at the JCO Tokai Plant that
occurred on 30 September.
Two weeks have passed since the accident occurred. However, it is reported that rumors and aftereffects of the accident continue to affect the local community, reminding us once again of the magnitude of the shock and anxiety that residents experienced. In light of what has happened, I fully understand the anger and disappointment of residents who have extended their full cooperation and understanding to the nuclear power industry since its start.
At a press conference on October 1, I commented on some of the steps we took in the wake of the accident. In order to ensure the safety of area residents as quickly as possible, we dispatched a total of 2700 personnel, including approximately 670 at the peak time, and supplied monitoring cars and instruments to check for radioactive contamination. Around-the-clock efforts allowed us to assist in checking some 15,000 residents for possible radiation exposure.
The most shocking aspect of the accident was not that it was caused by carelessness or unforeseen technical problems, but that JCO had prepared its own manuals, which is in itself illegal, and that even the procedures described in the illegal manuals were not adhered to. In other words, the accident occurred because of a complete and total failure of corporate ethics and safety procedures, at a level that should not be tolerated even in ordinary industries, to say nothing of the nuclear industry.
Earlier in the week in which the accident occurred, I was present at the WANO general meeting in Victoria, Canada. As a representative of the Tokyo Center, one of WANO's four international centers, I spoke at the meeting about the importance of safety, and commented that, "Safety awareness deteriorates when we begin to think of nuclear plants as being totally safe. In order to secure the public's trust, it is essential that nuclear power operators should maintain a high level of vigilance." I also pointed out that the economic viability of nuclear power is dependent on safe operation and the maintenance of public trust, and that if economic considerations are allowed to dominate, disaster will result.
Needless to say, I was shocked when I learned of the accident a short time later, and it made me realize the need for an organization similar to WANO that would promote an awareness of the need for stringent safety standards at nuclear waste management and fuel processing companies such as JCO.
In view of recent developments, the FEPC established a 'JCO Accident Special Response Committee' on 5 October to conduct an internal review of all nuclear power operations, and develop industry-wide information-sharing systems to deal safety and related issues. Two committee meetings have been held to date.
A thorough review has also been made of all manuals relating to nuclear operations, fuel control, radiation exposure management and the like. The review confirmed that all manuals are properly written and used in compliance with Nuclear Reactor Regulation Law guidelines. Results of this review were reported to the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy yesterday.
At a recent meeting with the Minister of International Trade and Industry, I also proposed the establishment of a domestic version of WANO. The purpose of the new organization will be to function as a command center for safety issues, and to promote a more safety-conscious corporate culture throughout the nuclear power industry. All companies involved in the transportation and handling of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste materials are being encouraged to join.
WANO, the World Association of Nuclear Operators, was established after the accident at Chernobyl. It is a private organization consisting of about 130 nuclear power operators in the world, including the FEPC. Since its founding, it has conducted peer reviews to evaluate safety among its members. International teams have visited nuclear power plants in various countries, and information relating to nuclear power plant management, operation and computer control systems has been shared among members.
The domestic nuclear safety organization that we have in mind will be based on the WANO model. In other words, unlike traditional unilateral investigations and strict inspections conducted by users, it will seek to improve safety standards throughout the industry by allowing members to exchange information and perform reviews as equal partners.
While we have maintained good communications with plant manufacturers in the past, it is true that we have had less contact with operators such as JCO that handle the early stages of fuel production. This situation will be rectified in the future.
Many issues still need to be resolved regarding the timing of the new organization's establishment, as well as its location, membership and activities. However, as the proverb says, "Strike while the iron is hot", and because this is a vital safety issue, we are working to establish a simple and effective organization by the year's end.
As I mentioned at the previous press conference, although the recent accident occurred out of our control in terms of law and contract, the fact that it was caused by a company involved in nuclear power operations has severely damaged the industry's credibility among residents at the site and the general public.
Nuclear power plant operations rely on sound management at all companies involved in the nuclear fuel production process. If such an accident is ever repeated, it is possible that nuclear power plant operations will be seriously threatened.
In view of these facts, I believe that it is essential that we do everything possible to increase safety awareness throughout the nuclear industry, and recover lost confidence.
The reality is that energy resources in our country are extremely scarce. Add to this our need to protect the global environment, and to meet growing demand for electricity in the future, and it becomes clear that nuclear power development must be continued, and that nuclear energy must play a key role in our ongoing energy policy.
I would like to turn now to the COP 5 conference that will held in Bonn, Germany from 25 October through 5 November. As is indicated in the reference materials, we intend to express our belief that nuclear energy is vital to the task of reducing global warming at various workshops and at the FEPC booth.
It is true that the Tokai accident brought great discredit to the industry, and it will undoubtedly take considerable effort to recover public confidence. Nevertheless, I am confident that nuclear energy can contribute much to society and our nation in the future. We are determined to do our best, and sincerely request the understanding of the energy press, and the public at large.
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