Japan to support controversial nuclear power in Asia

Japan to support controversial nuclear power in Asia

Japan plans to promote nuclear energy, which has been
controversial at home, in other Asian nations such as Vietnam and
Indonesia to help them diversify from oil, a Japanese trade
ministry official said Tuesday.

"We could help establish a system for nuclear power generation
that should be in line with (global) nuclear non-proliferation
and domestic laws in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia,"
the official said.

Japan will dispatch experts to the two countries, which in
turn will send officials here to study with the nuclear safety
agency, said the official in the nuclear policy division.

As Indonesia and Vietnam plan to start generating nuclear
power, "Japan wants to offer help for its peaceful, safe use," he
said.

"It would also beneficial to Japan as it contributes to easing
an energy crunch and reducing global warming," he said.

Japan had proposed earlier this year to help neighbor and
growing rival China construct nuclear power plants, he added.

Japan depends on nuclear power for 30 percent of its energy
needs but the figure is unlikely to grow sharply in the future as
few towns are willing to host nuclear plants for fear of an
accident and amid slack growth in electricity demand in the
barely growing Japanese economy.

Japan's offer of assistance comes amid soaring oil prices
triggered by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to the U.S.
Gulf Coast. Japan has been promoting eco-friendly industry as
part of its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark treaty
on global warming reached in Japan's ancient capital. -- AFP