Japanese PM ready to abandon nuclear power; utility to inject gas into reactor
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Wednesday that nuclear power carries too much risk.
July 14th, 2011
11:46 AM ET

Japanese PM ready to abandon nuclear power; utility to inject gas into reactor

Japan's energy plan needs to be completely revised and must eliminate the nation's dependence on nuclear power, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Wednesday, according to The Daily Yomiuri.

"I have realized that nuclear accidents cannot be prevented completely with the conventional safety measures we have at present," he said.

It's a sharp about-face for Kan. His government approved a plan just last year that called for 14 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and an increase in nuclear energy production from 26% to 53% of total electricity generated, The Daily Yomiuri reported.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. planned Thursday to inject nitrogen into the last of the damaged reactors at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Kyodo News Agency reported.

The inert gas will help stabilize the reactors as the utility aims for a cold shutdown by January at the latest, Kyodo reported.

TEPCO already has new water circulation systems working at all three reactors to keep their temperatures under control.

Meanwhile, the Fukushima municipal government says it plans to cleanse the entire city of radioactive contamination, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The city is about 30 miles from the damaged plant.

The effort, which could take nearly 20 years to complete, would involve pressure-washing buildings and scraping off the top layer of soil.

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Filed under: 2011 tsunami • Earthquake • Energy • Japan • Natural Disasters • Nuclear
soundoff (40 Responses)
  1. Scottish Mama

    I wonder where they shipped their spent rods? China?

    July 14, 2011 at 11:52 am | Report abuse |
    • JT

      what rods? they're a big glob of glowing goo

      July 14, 2011 at 12:26 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Scottish Mama

    We need to stop all Nuclear plants or retire them with new enviormentally safe and people safe energy. Scientist and engineers get on that please. Germany has already started and will be free of nuclear by 2022, Does this guy seem alittle flustered,ahh,ahh? You cannot predicted failure due to mother nature, Oil spill in Billings, The flood next to the plant in N. Dakota? we need to rid ourselves of hazards that terrorists can use against us.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • BGJ

      We should rely on rainbows and smiles to power our cars, homes, and factories.

      July 14, 2011 at 12:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • Scottish Mama

      @BGJ I guess switzerland, Germany, and now Ja-pan will run on smiles and rainbows.

      July 14, 2011 at 1:54 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Scottish Mama

    No New Nuclear.NNN

    July 14, 2011 at 12:02 pm | Report abuse |
  4. HRH banasy

    One spent rod is in my basement.

    Sorry. Inside joke.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:39 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Justin

    one dollar a fuc for my daughter..a genuine hor believe me..i kno from personel experience..the bigger the dic the better..thats our motto

    July 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Report abuse |
  6. PaintersEdge

    My mom likes rods, big ones.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Juan Banuelos

    Mine to, she takes two in her mouth.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:46 pm | Report abuse |
  8. @IVe had it:

    casey anthony

    July 14, 2011 at 12:50 pm | Report abuse |
  9. @IVe had it:

    casee anthony

    July 14, 2011 at 12:50 pm | Report abuse |
  10. @IVe had it:

    cayaee anthony

    July 14, 2011 at 12:51 pm | Report abuse |
  11. @IVe had it:

    caysee anthony is innocent

    July 14, 2011 at 12:51 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Juan Banuelos

    Daddy, Daddy, why is Mama so happy? Son, she has a dic stuck in her ass.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:52 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Juan Banuelos

    Don't know what to do with Mama. She does not stop fukin, she has a dic night n day in her ass. Her asshol is on fire.

    July 14, 2011 at 12:59 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Juan Banuelos

    Send me money to Juan Banuelos 349 E main st..Bronx NY. Ill send you a picture of my mother sukin coc. Just 12.95 hurry

    July 14, 2011 at 1:02 pm | Report abuse |
  15. HRH banasy

    @BGJ:

    Word.
    And, lmao.

    July 14, 2011 at 1:08 pm | Report abuse |
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