11.07.2011

Japan's Nuclear Industry Credibility Crumbles Amid Email Scandal

A Japanese nuclear power plant has come under fire for trying to sway the outcome of a public forum on atomic safety, dealing a fresh blow to the industry's credibility four months after the world's biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. An employee with Kyushu Electric Power instructed workers at the utility and affiliates to pose as ordinary citizens and send e-mails backing the restart of  reactors in southern Japan to a televised public hearing. more11.07.2011

Fukushima Daiichi: What's Going On At Japan's Crippled Nuclear Power Plant?

Japanese engineers are inching towards gaining control of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which was crippled by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, triggering the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. more29.06.2011

Mitsubishi Chem Delays Cracker Restart By 3 Days

Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical said on Tuesday that it expects to restart its 375,000 tons per year No.1 naphtha cracker at its Kashima plant on Thursday, three days later than planned as it had taken more time than expected in starting its No. 2 cracker. more21.06.2011

UN Atom Chief Yukiya Amano Urges Nuclear Safety Inspections, Tests

The U.N. nuclear chief proposed international safety checks on reactors worldwide to help prevent any repeat of Japan's atomic crisis, a plan which may face resistance from nations worried about outside involvement. more21.06.2011

Banri Kaieda: Japan Economy Will Suffer If Nuclear Power Axed

Japan's economy will suffer major damage if it reduces output from nuclear power stations to zero in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, its trade minister said on Monday. Routine maintenance and public concern since the Fukushima accident have left only 19 of Japan's 54 reactors functioning. more20.06.2011

Japan May Crude, LNG Imports Jump On Nuclear Shutdowns

Japan's oil and gas imports gained sharply in May from a year ago to fuel power plants running hard to compensate for nuclear reactors either crippled by the March earthquake and tsunami or shut later due to safety concerns.      The increased demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil imports could peak in the summer as the country faces peak demand amid power shortages as nuclear plant run rates fall.     more20.06.2011

Radiation Spike Halts Work at Japan Nuclear Plant

  A rise in radiation halted the clean-up of radioactive water at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power station on Saturday hours after it got under way, a fresh setback to efforts to restore control over the quake-stricken plant.        more08.06.2011

Japan Makes New Nuclear Safety Vows after Quake Disaster

Japan on Tuesday pledged to overhaul regulation of nuclear power, saying that lax standards and poor oversight had contributed to the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986. more24.05.2011

U.N. Body To Probe Fukushima Radiation Impact

A U.N. scientific body said on Monday it would study the radiation impact of Japan's nuclear disaster on people and the environment, but it did not expect to detect any major health effects. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), which has published reports about the 1986 Chernobyl accident, said it would take at least two years to produce a full report on the issue. more23.05.2011

Mitsubishi Chem: Maintenance On Cracker To Start Aug. 31

Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical said on Friday that planned maintenance on the No.2 naphtha cracker at its Kashima plant, with capacity to produce 453,000 tons of ethylene per year, would begin on Aug. 31. The company, a unit of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, said it restarted the No.2 cracker earlier on Friday as scheduled. A company spokesman declined to specify the last day of maintenance for the No.2 cracker. more