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■Press Tour to Fukui Prefecture ～The host of "2010 Japan APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting"～（March 4-5, 2010）

 

 

 

 

 

Link to 2010 Japan APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (Fukui Prefecture) 

 

【Issei Nishikawa, Governor of Fukui Prefecture】

 

Hello everyone. I am Issei Nishikawa, the governor of Fukui Prefecture. Fukui Prefecture has 13 commercial nuclear power plants, with two under construction at the moment. About 25% of the total electric supply by nuclear power in Japan is provided by Fukui Prefecture, which is number one in the country.

 

Fukui is unequaled anywhere in the world, with several types of nuclear reactors such as the prototype fast breeder reactor, “Monju”, and also different stages of reactors from ones under construction to decommissioning ones.

 

To make full use of these characteristics, Fukui introduced the "Energy R&D Centralization Plan" in 2005 bycentralization of research institutes and also R&D centers, and collaborating with local industry, with the aim of developing its regional industries together with nuclear power.

 

【Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Monju】

 

Monju is a fast breeder reactor (FBR) which produces more atomic fuel than it consumes, and thus is able to dramatically increase the effective utilization of uranium sources. The Monju reactor is a key facility for Japan's energy policy with the aim of establishing a nuclear fuel cycle.

 

Although Monju was shut down after sodium coolant leaked in December 1995, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) started plant modification work on Monju in 2005 to improve safety and reliability. After safety inspections of the facilities by the national government Monju was restarted on May 6, 2010 for the first time in 15 years. 

 

【Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center】

 

The Wakasa Bay area in the northwest part of Fukui is known as one of Japan's leading energy supply depots. It is because many of Japan's nuclear power plants are concentrated in this area. Since the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center (WERC) opened in 1998 as the comprehensive R&D hub for energy it has been making efforts to utilize the resulting research in activating the community and contributing to the international community. 

 

The proton cancer therapy research which began in 2003 has attracted much attention in recent years, and research targeting cancers of the prostate, liver, lungs, and head and neck has gained favorable results. On the basis of these achievements in the clinical studies, the Fukui Proton Cancer Therapy Center (tentative name) is to be opened in Fukui Prefectural Hospital in March 2011. 

 

【Energy from ancient times】

 

Kodaikokuya, Japanese candle maker, started business in the center of Fukui City in 1865. 

 

Ryuichiro Otsu, Executive Director: Unlike western style candles made of paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum refining, Japanese candles are made of wax from the fruit of the Japanese sumac tree, rhus succedanea. To make a candle, Japanese paper is first wrapped around a bamboo skewer and coated with wax. The wax is then coated with rush fiber until it hardens. Finally the skewer is pulled out leaving a hollow for the wick. The characteristics of Japanese candles are that the flame is bigger than western style candles, and the wavy flame keeps changing its shape. 

 

【Issei Nishikawa, Governor of Fukui Prefecture】 

 

I think many nuclear power plants are either under construction or scheduled in many countries and regions in the world including Asia at the moment. We hope that Fukui will be able to strengthen the hub function of human resource development, and welcome researchers and engineers from all over the world taking the opportunity of holding “2010 Japan APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting”.