Japan will sack three top energy officials over their failure to handle the Fukushima nuclear crisis, which has fueled public distrust of nuclear power, the country's government said today.
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Banri Kajeda, told reporters today that he will implement changes in his cabinet, which is responsible for the development and management of the nuclear industry.
He confirmed the information published earlier in the media, that the announced changes in the ministry refer to his deputy, then the general director of the Energy and Natural Resources Agency, as well as the head of the Nuclear Safety Agency.
According to the Japanese press, among other things, the agency lobbied electricity companies to have their employees ask questions in favor of nuclear energy during various forums and debates open to the public.
"We have been discussing these changes for the last month," Kajeda said.
He added that the official announcement about the changes in the ministry will be published during the day.
On March 11, Japan was hit by a catastrophic earthquake and a huge tsunami that, among other things, caused enormous damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The mentioned officials whose dismissal is announced are accused of, among other things, manipulating public opinion.
The biggest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986 caused a great distrust of the population towards the use of nuclear energy.
Discontent grew even more when it was discovered that officials from the Nuclear Safety Agency had tried to manipulate public opinion.
The Japanese press assesses that the task of the Nuclear Safety Agency is to monitor the safety of the nuclear sector, not to promote it
According to the Japanese press, among other things, that agency lobbied electricity companies to have their employees ask questions in favor of nuclear energy during various forums and debates open to the public.
As stated, the task of the Agency is to monitor the safety of the nuclear sector, not to promote it.
The authorities have announced that they will form an independent commission to investigate the entire case, and the Japanese Prime Minister has announced that he intends to provide the Agency with much greater independence from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and strengthen its efficiency.
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