Japan has produced more than 19,000 tonnes of nuclear waste since it began generating atomic energy in the 1960s.
New: You can now listen to articles.GENKAI, Japan : Cattle farmer Hiroshi Nakayama practically grew up with nuclear power in the rural town of Genkai, which has a population of just under 5,000.
Screening began last month to assess if Genkai, which has hosted a nuclear plant for about five decades, is suitable to serve as the country’s first radioactive waste disposal facility. Japan needs a radioactive waste disposal facility as it has produced more than 19,000 tonnes of nuclear waste since it began generating atomic energy in the 1960s.Nuclear waste needs to be stored at least 300 metres underground for about 100,000 years until radioactivity falls to acceptable levels.Local authorities have the right to pull out at each stage, but by undergoing just the first step of screening, the town can receive grants of up to 2 billion yen .
While the town’s mayor Shintarou Wakiyama gave the green light in May, he said he has misgivings about a disposal site being built there."I thought we are too small and not suitable for hosting a final nuclear waste disposal site,” he added.By having Genkai undergo screening, he said he hopes other towns will come forward.
“We have savings that can last us for two years. It is from nuclear-related income, and we can manage our town using national government subsidies.”Genkai’s nuclear plant used to supply the most energy out of all the plants in Kyushu, but two of its four nuclear reactors went offline within the last decade after failing to meet tightened safety standards.
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