Tag: TEPCO

  • Turkey warns it may buy nuclear tech from another country if Japan doesn’t clarify stance

    Turkey warns it may buy nuclear tech from another country if Japan doesn’t clarify stance

    Turkey has recently warned that unless the Japanese government clarifies its position on exporting nuclear power plants, from the end of the month Turkey might open up discussions with other countries on buying nuclear plant technology.

    In this March 11, 2011 file photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co., waves of tsunami come toward tanks of heavy oil for the Unit 5 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)
    In this March 11, 2011 file photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co., waves of tsunami come toward tanks of heavy oil for the Unit 5 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

    In December 2010, Japan won Turkey’s agreement to be given top priority in negotiations for a supplier as Turkey plans its first nuclear power plants. However, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, negotiations were frozen at the request of the Japanese side. Turkey extended the negotiations to the end of July, but it appears to hold doubts over the Japanese government’s support for nuclear technology exports after Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s comments that Japan should free itself from dependence on nuclear energy and review its exports of nuclear plant technology.

    The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) appeared unshaken by Turkey’s warning, with a high-ranking member saying, “It’s not an unusual tactic in such negotiations. We will respond calmly.”

    Behind that confidence is the view, expressed by METI minister Banri Kaieda, that similarly quake-prone Turkey “has faith in Japanese nuclear power technology” even after the March 11 earthquake.

    Additionally, a high-level executive at a nuclear power equipment maker says, “There are many countries that say they want Japan’s nuclear power plant technology.”

    METI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and related corporations have showed their intention to continue trying to sell nuclear technology.

    However, the Cabinet is divided. While METI minister Kaieda holds to his support for exporting Japan’s nuclear technology, Prime Minister Kan has shown his support for a review of such exports. Under such circumstances, one METI official said, “It’s understandable that Turkey would be unsettled.”

    A high-ranking official of METI’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy will visit Turkey within the week to better grasp its position, but until the Japanese government’s position on the issue is decided, it will likely be difficult for Japan to move negotiations in a favorable direction.

    In the case of Turkey, Toshiba Corp. has been negotiating for equipment orders with the Japanese government’s support. On Toshiba’s request, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) had been planned to provide technical knowledge. However, on July 26 TEPCO, saddled with the issue of compensation for the Fukushima nuclear disaster, emphasized that it “will not be involved with nuclear power plant exports.”

    Furthermore, on May 20 TEPCO had announced, “To reduce costs, we will not be involved with projects other than those absolutely necessary,” showing that it views itself as in no position to be expanding overseas.

    Separately, on July 14, Hitachi Ltd. secured top priority from Lithuania in negotiations for selling nuclear plant technology.

    In this photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), gray smoke rises from Unit 3 of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okumamachi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

    A Toshiba spokesperson said, “Unlike Lithuania, where the equipment maker negotiated directly with the other country, the Turkey case depends on Japanese government policy. Unless both governments decide on a framework, we cannot act.”

    A high-ranking executive of one equipment maker said, “We will feel out the possibility of independently negotiating with countries, without relying on the government.”

    (Mainichi Japan) July 27, 2011

    via Turkey warns it may buy nuclear tech from another country if Japan doesn’t clarify stance – The Mainichi Daily News.

  • Tokyo Electric May Give Technical Support to Turkey Nuclear Bid

    Tokyo Electric May Give Technical Support to Turkey Nuclear Bid

    Tokyo Electric Power Co. will consider providing technical support if asked by a Japanese group including Toshiba Corp. (6502) that’s seeking orders to build four nuclear power reactors for Turkey’s government.

    “We haven’t make any decision on participating,” said Yoshinori Mori, a Tepco spokesman. “We’ll consider whether we can offer technical support if we get such a request.”

    Tokyo Electric will probably be replaced by another utility, the Sankei newspaper reported earlier today, citing a Turkish government official it didn’t name. Talks between Turkey and the group have been suspended since the March 11 earthquake, Sankei said.

    Tokyo Electric is reviewing its overseas businesses as it plans a restructuring, Mori said. The Turkish project isn’t included in the review as the utility hasn’t made a decision to participate, he said.

    To contact the reporter on this story: Mariko Yasu in Tokyo at myasu@bloomberg.net

    To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jim McDonald at jmcdonald8@bloomberg.net

    via Tokyo Electric May Give Technical Support to Turkey Nuclear Bid – Bloomberg.

  • Greenpeace urges Turkey to scrap nuclear talks with Japan’s TEPCO

    Greenpeace urges Turkey to scrap nuclear talks with Japan’s TEPCO

    Environmentalist group Greenpeace urged Turkey to cancel nuclear talks with Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the Japanese power utility that is in charge of disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant.

    Raindrops are seen on the surface of a logo of Tokyo lectric Power Co. (TEPCO) at its headquarters in Tokyo on May 29, 2011.
    Raindrops are seen on the surface of a logo of Tokyo lectric Power Co. (TEPCO) at its headquarters in Tokyo on May 29, 2011.

    Turkey, which has signed an agreement with Russia for construction of its first nuclear power plant in the Mediterranean province of Mersin, was in talks with TEPCO and Toshiba on building a second one in Sinop, on the Black Sea coast. In May, Japan asked to suspend negotiations. But in June, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız signaled readiness to resume talks with the Japanese companies, saying Turkey wants to clarify the future of talks by mid-July.

    In a statement released on Thursday, Greenpeace slammed TEPCO’s conduct in the aftermath of a nuclear meltdown at Fukushima plant after a quake-triggered tsunami in March, saying it lacked transparency and accusing TEPCO officials of providing incomplete and incorrect information about radiation levels.

    “It was the Japanese side that wanted the talks on Sinop nuclear plant to be suspended. Now, only three months after the [Fukushima] accident, the Turkish government wants to continue the talks with TEPCO… This is an irresponsible attitude that endangers lives of peoples of Turkey and the neighboring countries,” Pınar Aksoğan of Greenpeace said.

    Aksoğan further urged the Turkish government not to have talks on construction of nuclear power plants with Japan or any other country because “the era of nuclear energy is over.”

    “It is the Turkish government alone that fails to see this fact,” she said.

    Turkey suffers frequent seismic activity, and fears of a major earthquake are ever present in some parts of the country, but the government wants to press ahead with plans for nuclear energy and has given assurances that all safeguards will be taken.

    via Greenpeace urges Turkey to scrap nuclear talks with Japan’s TEPCO.