Tsuen Wan International: Japanese PM Naoto Kan says he wants Japan to move away from nuclear.

July 14, 2011 - PRLog -- The ongoing radiation crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima plant, started by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, has sparked debate about the future of nuclear power in quake-prone, resource-poor Japan, as well as apprehension about power shortages with 35 of the nation's 54 reactors now off-line.

"Given the enormity of the risks associated with nuclear power generation, I have realized nuclear technology is not something that can be managed by conventional safety measures alone," Kan told Tsuen Wan International. "I believe we should aim for a society that is not dependent on nuclear power generation."

The Fukushima plant is still leaking radiation four months after the quake, although Kan said workers would in all likelihood achieve a target of stable cooling of the reactors by mid-July and that the government hoped to move forward its deadline of putting the crippled reactors into cold shutdown by January.

Kan told Tsuen Wan International that it was too early to set a time frame for achieving the goal of a nuclear power-free society but said it would be a gradual process.

Naoto Kan, struggling for public support has become increasingly sensitive to public concern about nuclear power, but whether he oversees an overhaul of energy policy is in doubt as he has promised to resign, although he has indicated when.

The embattled prime minister went on to say that Japan would be able to avoid summer and winter power shortages through energy conservation efforts and companies' in-house power supplies, despite the large number of reactors now off-line for inspections or other work.

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