A harsh reminder of history . . .
Almost exactly 11 years after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, aka 3.11, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit off the coast of Fukushima on Wednesday evening, killing two people and injuring 160 more. Strong shaking was felt in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, with tremors felt as far away as Tokyo. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks triggered a brief tsunami advisory, derailed a bullet train, and caused a blackout affecting more than 2.2 million homes in northeastern Japan and Tokyo. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s office set up an emergency response centre and instructed authorities to make utmost efforts to rescue the injured. Although nuclear power plants in Fukushima and Miyagi only saw temporary disruptions and no damage, this disaster is a much-too-stark reminder of 3.11.
Revamping nuclear energy against high risks . . .
According to a study by Japan’s National Disaster Management Council released last December, nearly 200,000 could die if an earthquake like 3.11 hits further north off the coast of Iwate Prefecture. Many local governments have ramped up tsunami evacuation infrastructure, but much remains to be done to further address emergency preparedness and nuclear safety. Prime Minister Kishida came into office in 2021 advocating for the restarting of nuclear power, shut down since 3.11, to help meet the country’s sustainable energy commitments. The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s seizure of nuclear plants has given rise to new security threats to the industry and has prompted Kishida to discuss the need for a new police force to safeguard the country’s nuclear power plants.
Net-zero aspirations versus regional nuclear challenges . . .
Japan is less reliant on nuclear power today (7.5%) than it was before 3.11, when one-third of its electricity was provided by nuclear. However, in its bid to lead Asia’s push for zero-emissions, Japan’s fall 2021 energy policy promotes nuclear power as a means to reach ambitious climate targets. Additionally, nuclear exports contribute significantly to Japan’s political and economic goals in emerging markets, as demonstrated by its nuclear export agreements with Vietnam and Turkey. The emerging nuclear energy market in Southeast Asia is a battleground for Japan, China, South Korea, and Russia. Yet, public support for nuclear power remains lukewarm in the region even when governments signal interest. While ASEAN members collaborate on capacity building and knowledge sharing around nuclear security, the region has a relatively weak nuclear security culture.
READ MORE
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Exchanging atoms for influence: competition in Southeast Asia’s nuclear market
- Reuters: Quake hits Japan off Fukushima coast, leaving one dead and reviving painful memories
- World Bank: Learning from megadisasters: a decade of lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake
