The Atomic Energy Commission's latest white paper, announced late last year for the first time in 5 1/2 years, is a reminder of the troubled condition of Japan's nuclear power industry. The report's publication had been delayed because of a series of irregularities and accidents that came to light in recent years, such as reactor coolant leakages and test data fabrications.
No wonder public confidence in nuclear safety has plummeted, perhaps to the lowest level since the commission was created in 1956. The report is only too right to emphasize the importance of restoring the public's trust in nuclear energy. One chapter -- "Nuclear energy policy in a new age" -- focuses on grass-roots efforts to win the hearts and minds of local residents.
The report, however, adheres to the current policy, which calls for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and for establishing the "nuclear fuel cycle" in which plutonium is extracted for use as fuel. But it is difficult to believe that maintaining the status quo is the way to address public concerns about nuclear safety and other problems.