Japan to establish new nuclear watchdog

[News_Editor]

Japan to establish new nuclear watchdog

2011-08-16 05:51:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The Japanese government on Monday endorsed a plan to set up a new nuclear safety agency under the wing of the country's Environment Ministry, NHK
 Television reported.

The government will create the new agency under the Environment Ministry to ensure that it will not have any ties with the power industry. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been pushing for separation of the country's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) from the industry ministry as it promotes the use of nuclear energy.

The new entity will take over the functions of the NISA, and will also be responsible for the advisory functions of the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission and the radiation monitoring undertaken by the science ministry. 
It will also oversee safety management at nuclear plants and handle other nuclear-related activities, including emergency response and regular inspections.

The government plans to launch the new agency in April 2012.

The move is part of the government's efforts to improve nuclear administration in the wake of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The plant was severely damaged on March 11 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country.

The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan. Subsequent power shortages throughout the country have further complicated recovery efforts.

At least 23,482 people were killed while 8,069 people remain missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. There are still more than 88,000 people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures around Japan.

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