Photo/Illutration Kaminoseki Mayor Tetsuo Nishi, center, tries to enter the town hall on Aug. 18, surrounded by residents who oppose plans to build an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. (Soichiro Yamamoto)

KAMINOSEKI, Yamaguchi Prefecture--Lured by central government subsidies, the mayor here said he has accepted Chugoku Electric Power Co.’s proposal to build an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in the struggling town.

The first step in the project would be a study of land in Kaminoseki to ensure it is suitable for the facility.

“We will accept Chugoku Electric’s offer to conduct a survey,” Kaminoseki Mayor Tetsuo Nishi said at an extraordinary session of the town assembly on Aug. 18.

The assembly session was called to discuss the utility’s proposal, and the mayor immediately made clear his support.

“When I think about the future of our shrinking town, it is my mission to create an environment where young people can live and raise their children and where residents can live at ease,” Nishi said. “I also want to pass on a sustainable hometown to the next generation.”

After the assembly members expressed their opinions, Nishi formally announced the town’s acceptance of the survey and conveyed the decision to the utility.

Many residents, however, oppose the plan, and they expressed their opinions to Nishi when he tried to enter the town hall.

The town estimates that it can receive an annual subsidy of up to 140 million yen ($960,000) from the central government for accepting the survey.

If the land proves apt, and the Yamaguchi governor agrees to the construction of the storage facility, the annual subsidy will be increased to a maximum 980 million yen for the following two years.

About 40 years ago, Chugoku Electric proposed building a nuclear power plant in Kaminoseki.

Preparatory work began in 2009, but the project has been on hold since the triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

In February this year, Kaminoseki asked Chugoku Electric to come up with promotional measures that would lead to the town’s development.

On Aug. 2, the utility presented the plan to build an interim storage facility there.

Chugoku Electric will develop the facility jointly with Kansai Electric Power Co.

If the plan is realized, it would be the second interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Japan. The first one, built in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, was funded by TEPCO and Japan Atomic Power Co.

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