Japan's nuke safety woes remain five years after Fukushima
In March, 2011, a magnitude nine earthquake off the east coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that killed almost 20,000 people and led to meltdowns and release of radioactive material at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The disaster inflicted nearly half a trillion dollars in economic losses and caused the shutdown of more than 50 nuclear reactors, depriving Japan of 30 percent of its electric power capacity.
Japan now has a new Nuclear Regulatory Authority (JNRA) that enjoys insulation from the influence of nuclear energy stakeholders. JNRA has imposed stricter safety standards, reflecting many of Fukushima’s most important lessons. Managers of many nuclear facilities have undertaken safety improvements beyond JNRA’s requirements in a bid for public confidence.