Regarding this matter, Masui first referred to the Strategic Energy Plan, which states that the government will consider mechanisms to facilitate investment in decarbonized power sources—including nuclear power—by utilizing the government’s creditworthiness. Against this backdrop, he explained that discussions are underway to develop a scheme in which the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) would provide loans. In relation to the design of this system, JAIF submitted requests focusing mainly on the following five points.
First, regarding loan conditions, Masui said that since the system would utilize the government’s creditworthiness, it should not be required to secure profits in the same way as private financial institutions, and should instead provide funding at the lowest possible interest rates.
Second, with respect to the ceiling on loan amounts, the draft framework suggests a guideline of “around 30% of project costs.” However, given the extremely large scale of investment required for nuclear power projects, JAIF called for flexible conditions that can be adjusted according to the circumstances of each project.
Third, Masui noted that enormous funding may be required in cases where events occur for which operators bear no responsibility, or when operators voluntarily pursue safety improvements. He therefore recommended establishing a loan framework capable of accommodating a wide range of such situations.
Fourth, regarding the introduction of a debt guarantee system, Masui cited examples from some U.S. states where government-backed debt guarantee schemes have been established, and proposed introducing a similar mechanism in Japan.
Fifth, he addressed the nuclear damage compensation system. In Japan, operators are in principle subject to unlimited liability, and Masui called for an early review of the system in order to improve risk predictability for project developers.
Masui also provided details on the 59th JAIF Annual Conference, which will be held over two days on April 14–15, and invited the attending journalists to participate.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Human Resource Strategies to Support the Maximum Utilization of Nuclear Energy.” The keynote session will be jointly organized with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA), and NEA Director-General William D. Magwood IV is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech.
In addition, JAIF Chairman MIMURA Akio will give a special lecture in his capacity as co-representative of the “Conference for Choosing the Future,” addressing Japan’s declining population and potential policy responses. UESAKA Mitsuru, Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, is also expected to give a lecture on nuclear human resources.
Several sessions focusing on the securing and development of nuclear human resources will be held during the conference. These sessions will present international survey results on the scale and types of personnel required for new nuclear power plant construction, while sharing the reality of supply–demand gaps in nuclear workforce development.
Discussions will also address initiatives to maintain high-quality operations with limited personnel in the context of Japan’s declining population, as well as the use of technologies such as work standardization.
In addition, a “Fukushima Session” titled “The Wisdom and Passion of Nuclear Professionals Challenging Decommissioning” will feature a vice president of Tokyo Electric Power Company introducing progress in the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi and related human resource development efforts. Young engineers involved in decommissioning, along with teachers and students from technical colleges and high schools, will also participate to share their perspectives and aspirations for future decommissioning work.
During the Q&A session with reporters in the latter half of the press conference, questions were raised regarding recent developments surrounding a literature survey for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) on Minamitorishima Island.
Commenting on METI’s request to Ogasawara Village regarding the survey, Masui said that it was “a highly noteworthy development,” expressing expectations for future progress. In particular, he emphasized that the fact the request had been initiated by the national government represented a significant step.
He also expressed hope that as more municipalities move forward with literature surveys, discussions on final disposal would expand nationwide.
Masui introduced views from some experts who note that Minamitorishima is located far from inhabited areas and sits on the Pacific Plate, where geological conditions may be relatively stable. “Some opinions suggest that it could be one of the first locations to be examined when considering a repository site in Japan,” he commented.
At the same time, he pointed out that the island lies about 2,000 kilometers from mainland Tokyo, and mentioned challenges related to transportation and costs. Construction materials would have to be transported by sea, which could result in higher overall costs compared with other candidate locations. He also noted that transporting high-level radioactive waste would require a substantial security framework.
Masui concluded that “locating a repository far from the mainland has both advantages and challenges.”
