Future perspectives of nuclear energy in japan

The criticality accident at Tokai-mura in the fall of 1999 not only caused the death of two workers, but also had a very negative impact on the image of nuclear power in Japan. The credibility of nuclear power has been impaired considerably, and uncertainty, fear, and the rejection of this source of power are now subjects of public debate. Given the positive economic development of Japan, and given also the energy supply situation of the country, with its considerable dependence on energy imports and the very special geographic situation with its consequences for infrastructure - energy resources transmitted through pipes or lines can be routed only over limited distances in the insular state of Japan, and importing across the seas from neighboring countries is not feasible - nuclear power is going to hold an important role also in the country's and the region's future energy supply. The global situation of the limited nature of fossil energy reserves is going to open perspectives of an expansion of nuclear power worldwide in the long term, including the development and construction of advanced reactors.