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Provisional Translation September, 2020
Summary of
“White Paper on Nuclear Energy 2019” published in 2020
Table of Contents
The White Paper consists of the Special Report and Chapters (Chapters 1 to 8) following the outline of the “Basic Policy for Nuclear Energy approved by the Cabinet in July 2017,” and was edited through collaboration with the related ministries.
[Special Report]: Development of human resources who will play an active role in the nuclear field
This report outlines human resource development policies carried out by foreign governments, research institutes and industrial circles who have pursued the use of nuclear energy, and summarizes useful information to be referred to in future efforts in Japan.
[Main Contents]
Chapter 1 “Steady reconstruction and revival of Fukushima, and tireless safety improvement with lessons seriously learned”
Chapter 2 “Nuclear energy use addressing global warming issues and people’s livelihood and the economy”
Chapter 3 “Efforts at home and overseas in the global context”
Chapter 4 “Peaceful use, non-proliferation, and ensuring nuclear security”
Chapter 5 “Rebuilding public trust as a precondition for using nuclear energy”
Chapter 6 “Decommissioning and the management of radioactive waste”
Chapter 7 “Promoting the utilization of radiation and radioisotopes”
Chapter 8 “Strengthening the foundation for using nuclear energy”
* In addition to “human resource development,” described in the Special Report, the course of direction of R&D and efforts to build a knowledge base through collaboration with the relevant institutes are also described.
Special Report: Development of human resources who will play an active role in the nuclear field
- To maintain and further develop the nuclear utilization in Japan, it is necessary to secure and develop human resources who will be engaged in nuclear field, while securing its safety.
- It is important to build a virtuous cycle where excellent human resources are produced, through role sharing and collaboration among the sectors related to the field, while learning good practices in Japan and abroad.
Present state in Japan Efforts made in overseas countries Good practices at universities Analyzing case examples of efforts, made by universities and governments ü Education through collaboration across different levels ranging from in the United States and Europe, for human resource development faculties to graduate schools [United States] ü Strengthening of collaboration between nuclear-related and radiation- Supports nuclear education and facility renovation at universities using the related teachers, etc. Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), etc. Problems and required efforts [France] ü Increasing international presence of research and education Has established a hub body (I2EN), ü Coping with decreased popularity of nuclear-related faculties among which consolidates educational students, and productive education in these faculties programs provided in the country, ü Succession of experience and knowledge through work, etc. with collaboration between (students) industrial, governmental and Total academic stakeholders. Faculty Promotion of human resource development through Master [United Kingdom] industry-government-academia collaboration Doctor Working on efforts for predicting, Number of nuclear human resources in demand analyzing and responding to the 60,000 demand for nuclear human resources in the future for each 40,000 Scenario 2 nuclear energy output scenario, 20,000 Scenario 1 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 while centering on the industrial 0 2020 2025 2030 2035 |
| Transition of student enrolment at nuclear-related departments etc. | circles. Prediction of nuclear human resources in demand in the future |
Examples of course of direction for efforts to be made in the future 1. Increasing the international presence of research and education, maintaining/strenghtening nuclear education at universities, and developing human resources after graduating from universities 2. Attractive publicity of nuclear energy to the public, including students 3. Improving thequality of education with collaboration between industrial circles, national research institutes and universities |
Focused efforts in the nuclear utilization in Japan and their courses of direction [Chapters 1 to 2]
Chapter 1: Steady reconstruction and revival of Fukushima, and tireless safety improvement
with lessons seriously learned - Introduces efforts related to measures to cope with radiation effects (e.g., efforts such as response to the situation in the evacuation order zones and food products, steady progress of decontamination and waste treatment, and a verification project for volume reduction and recycling of removed soil, etc.) toward the reconstruction and revival of Fukushima.
- Introduces tireless efforts for safety improvement and prevention of severe accidents, such as the voluntary and continuous safety enhancement activities by nuclear operators, and a future course of direction.
- Introduces various efforts such as those to strengthen a framework related to nuclear emergency responses, local nuclear emergency preparedness, conducting comprehensive nuclear emergency drills and environmental radiation monitoring, based on the lessons learned from the accident.
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Chapter 2: Nuclear energy use addressing global warming issues and people’s livelihood and the economy
- Promotes the use of nuclear energy while considering issues such as coping with the global warming, and stable supply of energy, on the premise of securing safety.
- Introduces reports of international bodies on the effectiveness of nuclear energy, such as substantial contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and efforts made in overseas countries.
- Introduces efforts to complete construction of facilities such as the Rokkasho reprocessing plant.
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Describes recent situation in major nuclear power generating countries and international bodies (e.g., IAEA, OECD/NEA). Also mentions the current international cooperation and collaboration between Japan and other countries.
development of a compact accelerator, and the present state of synchrotron radiation facilities, etc.