InfoAnda - Japan leans toward zero nuclear stance, caution remains |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Pakistani U.N. peacekeepers sentenced in Haiti rape case | | 13 March 2012
Showbiz mogul Dick Clark under harsh spotlight in documentary | Entertainment | | 25 September 2009
Sarkozy outlines French exit strategy from crisis | 23 June 2009

Russia court finds 'Forbidden Art' organisers guilty | 12 July 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Japan leans toward zero nuclear stance, caution remains |

Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Home Business Business Home Economy Technology Media Small Business Legal Deals Earnings Social Pulse Business Video The Freeland File Aerospace & Defense Markets Markets Home U.S. Markets European Markets Asian Markets Global Market Data Indices M&A Stocks Bonds Currencies Commodities Futures Funds peHUB World World Home U.S. Brazil China Euro Zone Japan Mexico Russia India Insight World Video Reuters Investigates Decoder Politics Politics Home Election 2012 Campaign Polling Political Punchlines Supreme Court Politics Video Tech Technology Home MediaFile Science Tech Video Tech Tonic Social Pulse Opinion Breakingviews Money Money Home Tax Break Lipper Awards 2012 Global Investing MuniLand Unstructured Finance Linda Stern Mark Miller John Wasik James Saft Analyst Research Alerts Watchlist Portfolio Stock Screener Fund Screener Personal Finance Video Money Clip Investing 201 Life Health Sports Arts Faithworld Business Traveler Entertainment Oddly Enough Lifestyle Video Pictures Pictures Home Reuters Photographers Video Reuters TV Reuters News Article Comments (0) Pictures Editor's choice Our best photos from the last 24 hours. Slideshow Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Hurricane bears down on fortified New Orleans on Katrina's anniversary | 4:14am EDT Analysis: China's aircraft carrier: in name only | 28 Aug 2012 Republicans launch convention assault on Obama | 1:55am EDT "Galley slave" Putin savors yachts, planes, palaces, critics say 28 Aug 2012 Actress Lindsay Lohan not charged in theft from California home 28 Aug 2012 Discussed 138 Obama’s lead over Romney grows despite voters’ pessimism 122 Romney to announce vice presidential choice Saturday 94 Analysis: Are Israelis tough enough for a long war with Iran? Sponsored Links Pictures Reuters Photojournalism Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography. See more | Photo caption Republican women Sarah Palin, Condoleezza Rice and Michelle Bachmann are some of the prominent GOP women supporters. Slideshow Hurricane Katrina A look back at the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina. Slideshow Japan leans toward zero nuclear stance, caution remains Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Big radiation risk unlikely if Israel strikes Iran: experts Tue, Aug 28 2012 Don't drop ball on nuclear safety: IAEA chief Mon, Aug 27 2012 IAEA gets no deal with Iran on bomb research suspicions Fri, Aug 24 2012 U.N. nuclear watchdog pushes Iran to open up military site Fri, Aug 24 2012 Japan tough but wary on South Korea row; debt plan, fx deal on line Fri, Aug 24 2012 Analysis & Opinion Essential reading: Attack targets Romney’s role in Marriott tax deals, and more Essential reading: Watchdog says U.S. IRS allows bogus taxpayer IDs, and more Related Topics World » By Linda Sieg TOKYO | Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:32am EDT TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government, wary of public opinion ahead of an election, is leaning toward setting a target to eliminate atomic power by 2030 - a major policy shift for an economy that had planned to boost the role of nuclear energy before the Fukushima crisis. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is expected to call a snap election within months and with his Democratic Party's (DPJ) ratings sagging, pressure is mounting to respond to a growing grass-roots anti-nuclear movement and surveys showing that most voters want to abandon atomic energy eventually. Such a decision would fly in the face of objections from big business lobbies, which say an aggressive programme to exit nuclear power will boost electricity rates and force companies to move production - and jobs - overseas. "I think the zero by 2030 scenario is becoming mainstream (in the government)," said DPJ lawmaker Satoshi Arai, a former minister and a member of a panel thrashing out the party's stance ahead of the election for parliament's lower house. "I think it is (because of) the election," he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. In contrast to polls of ordinary voters, a Reuters survey of big Japanese firms showed that while one in five backed the zero option, the rest of respondents supported a continued role for nuclear energy. But some economists say a policy shift would spell opportunities for growth, both for companies now positioning themselves to profit from the change and the economy overall. "A sustained focus on energy technology improvement should be very positive for certain sectors or producers but also very positive for users, who need increased incentives to use energy more efficiently," said Robert Feldman, chief economist at Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities in Tokyo. Feldman rejected suggestions that an abrupt policy change would prompt firms to move overseas "because it takes a static view of technology. Why would technology stop in its tracks?" The earthquake and tsunami that crippled the Fukushima power plant and caused a series of meltdowns prompted cancellation of a 2010 plan to raise the share of nuclear power in electricity production to more than 50 percent by 2030 from nearly 30 percent. All 50 of Japan's reactors were halted within months of the accident, with two since reconnected to the grid. Policymakers are now considering three options for the future of the sector. PARTY DIVIDED Most experts had expected Noda to opt for a scenario that would put nuclear power's share at around 15 percent of electricity production by 2030. But growing anti-nuclear protests combined with strong support for the zero option at public hearings and in opinion polls has forced the government to rethink, experts and politicians said. "A majority of people are eager to get rid of nuclear power - that is our conclusion after we discussed a variety of public opinions submitted to the government this time," Economics Minister Motohisa Furukawa told reporters on Tuesday. Besides the zero and 15 percent options, a third scenario would put nuclear power's share at 20-25 percent by 2030. The earthquake and tsunami devastated Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant north of Tokyo and forced about 160,000 people to flee their homes, many of whom may never return. The disaster undermined public confidence in nuclear power, promoted for decades as safe, clean and cheap. Noda's decision to approve the restart of the two reactors galvanized the anti-nuclear movement. But Noda's party is split and the prime minister seems reluctant to wean Japan from nuclear power too soon. "There are many people who say different things and no one can say whether the government will choose zero or 15 percent at this point," said a source with knowledge of the debate. Some experts still expect the government to pick the 15 percent scenario, the logical outcome if reactors are shut after 40 years as required "in principle" by law, and no new reactors are built. It could, however, add that Japan will aim to exit atomic energy longer term, a stance the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party may also adopt in its own campaign platform. "While the Noda Administration ... (is) openly talking about a zero nuclear policy, we believe this is simply not doable. A 15 percent nuclear policy will likely be adopted after all the protests and arguments," said a report by energy consultants FACTS Global Energy. Demand for liquefied natural gas in Japan, the world's biggest consumer of the fuel, will rise further to run power stations as renewable sources such as solar and wind power would not fill the gap fast enough, the report said. Arai, who favors the 15 percent solution, echoed the concerns. "If we move faster, technological and system development and huge changes in society will be needed," he said. "I don't think that is possible in 15-20 years." (Additional reporting by Kentaro Hamada and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Ron Popeski) World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Back to top Reuters.com Business Markets World Politics Technology Opinion Money Pictures Videos Site Index Legal Bankruptcy Law California Legal New York Legal Securities Law Support & Contact Support Corrections Connect with Reuters Twitter Facebook LinkedIn RSS Podcast Newsletters Mobile About Privacy Policy Terms of Use AdChoices Copyright Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electronic trading and data distribution A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance Our next generation legal research platform Our global tax workstation Thomsonreuters.com About Thomson Reuters Investor Relations Careers Contact Us Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Analysis: China's aircraft carrier: in name only |
France opens murder inquiry into Arafat's 2004 death |
NATO may need more troops to ship home Afghan gear |
Slain dictator's daughter turns to mother's legacy in bid to lead South Korea |
Nine Iraqi soldiers killed in north Baghdad attacks |
Nigeria power minister resigns before privatization |
Mexico's electoral court set to confirm Pena Nieto victory |
KKR to invest $1.27 billion in Japan's Renesas: Nikkei |
Lindsay Lohan sought for questioning in theft: reports |
Suspected burglar of LL Cool J home pleads not guilty |
Clinton set to take U.S. Asia push to South Pacific |
Syria refugee exodus raises pressure for buffer zone |
Amsterdam airport partly closed by WWII bomb scare |
Japan leans toward zero nuclear stance, caution remains |
Ukraine rejects appeal by jailed ex-PM Tymoshenko |
Egypt broadens Sinai campaign against militants |
India Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Mumbai attacker |
South Africa mines minister reassures foreign investors |
Montreal police arrest 11 after university clash |
Hearing on Apple injunction vs Samsung set for December |
After Apple bruising, Samsung to bounce back with new Note phablet |
Second accused LulzSec hacker arrested in Sony Pictures breach |
Zynga's creative chief exits, plans Zynga-backed start-up |
Lexmark to dump inkjet business, shares jump |
Actress Lindsay Lohan not charged in theft from California home |
Religion, 9/11 grab spotlight as Venice film fest opens |
Documents show White House interest in bin Laden film |
Israeli court sets new deadline to evacuate contested settlement |
Loss of radio contact prompts Amsterdam plane hijack scare |
Former India state minister faces death for role in massacre |
Dutch Liberals lead in polls ahead of September 12 vote |
Italy challenges India in Supreme Court over fishermen deaths |
Many civilians massacred in Congo: U.N. officials |
France's Hollande spurs action on youth jobs plan |
Nigeria power minister says he quit to save integrity |
Tymoshenko loses appeal, stays in Ukraine jail |
Sony launches Xperia tablet in push for mobile success |
Apple/Samsung dispute not yet made it to China: Xinhua |
Square to sell card readers at AT&T stores |
M.Video mulls extra dividend after strong H1 |
Venice opens with 9/11 film, aims to build bridges |
A Minute With: Sam Raimi's truly haunting Possession |
Shakespeare flashmobs ambush London's streets |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01