Atomic Power Needed to Save Japanese Economy: Noda
Nuclear power provided about 30 percent of the electricity in the world?s third biggest economy before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Now, about 80 percent of Japan?s 54 reactors are offline with more shutting for scheduled maintenance in the months ahead.
With the majority of opinion polls showing the public oppose the use of atomic power, Noda needs to convince his electorate so-called stress tests on reactors will make them safer to restart. Industry leaders have said they may shift production overseas if power supplies aren?t stable, threatening an economic recovery.
?There will be very little reserve electricity for peak hours in the winter and summer if the operating rate of reactors keeps falling,? said Yugo Nakamura, an analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Noda is ?trying to avoid economic disruptions by restarting reactors after safety checks.?
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