The mayor of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, announced that the town will undergo a literature survey to determine its suitability for hosting a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. Mayor Shintaro Wakiyama stated that the decision was made to spark a national debate rather than for financial gain.
Genkai will be the third municipality in Japan to accept such a survey, following Suttsu and Kamoenai in Hokkaido. The town is home to Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Genkai nuclear power plant, marking the first time a literature survey will be conducted in a town with a nuclear facility.
The survey, which evaluates a municipality’s suitability based on geological data and documents, will be supported by the central government with up to ¥2 billion over two years. The decision to proceed with the survey came after the town assembly approved a petition submitted by local business groups.
This significant step by Genkai has the potential to shape the future of nuclear waste disposal in Japan and serves as a catalyst for broader discussions on the handling of high-level radioactive waste.
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