Fukushima Watch: Industry Minister Rejects New Legislation to Save Tepco 福島監視: 産業大臣が東電を救うための新たな法律を拒否した

(Source) http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/10/09/fukushima-watch-industry-minister-rejects-new-legislation-to-save-tepco/ By Mari Iwata October 9, 2013 Japan’s industry minister has dismissed legislation proposed by fellow lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that would allow the government to take over dealing with the contaminated water problem at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant, giving some relief to the cash-strapped utility that runs it. “I don’t think we need any new legislation,” Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday. Existing laws “don’t prevent the government from doing what we plan to do,” Mr. Motegi told reporters after a Cabinet meeting. METI oversees the power industry. Leaks of water containing radioactive materials have raised doubts about the ability of Tokyo Electric Power Co.9501.TO -0.76%, or Tepco, to manage the situation at the site of March 2011 nuclear accident. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said since late August the government would take “an active role” in managing the accident. But the government has so far only committed to a limited role. It has promised ¥47 billion ($494 million) in new investment to build equipment that could help divert the flow of groundwater from the site and remove radioactive materials from the water. Otherwise, the government has funded research and development of new technologies to decommission the plant. Concerned about leaving the situation primarily in Tepco’s hands, some LDP members suggested legislation in late September for the government to take sole responsibility for managing the water problems. That would allow Tepco to focus its dwindling resources on decommissioning the reactors. But no such bill has been prepared for the next Diet session beginning Oct. 15. “Because the government is going to spend public money, it should make sure it will be in charge,” said Taku Yamamoto, the lawmaker who suggested the legislation. “Mr. Abe already promised the international community we would contain the situation. We must make it true,” he said.