トルコ原発受注 官民でインフラ輸出の加速を

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 8, 2013
Accelerate nuclear, infrastructure exports with public-private efforts
トルコ原発受注　官民でインフラ輸出の加速を（5月6日付・読売社説）

A consortium of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and major French nuclear firm Areva SA is set to receive an order from Turkey for the construction of a nuclear power plant.
　トルコが計画する原子力発電所の建設を、三菱重工業と仏原子力大手アレバの企業連合が受注することになった。

The agreement was made during a summit meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two nations also signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, which serves as a prerequisite for nuclear plant exports.
　安倍首相とトルコのエルドアン首相が首脳会談で合意し、両国は輸出の前提となる原子力協定にも調印した。

This economic diplomacy, in which the prime minister himself acted as the top sales promoter, is laudable.
　首相が自らトップセールスした経済外交の成果を評価したい。

In the wake of the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in 2011, the then Democratic Party of Japan-led administration announced a policy of abandoning nuclear power. This caused concern that Japan's nuclear plant exports could be stalled, including an order already received from Vietnam.
　２０１１年の東京電力福島第一原発事故後、民主党政権が「脱原発」を掲げたため、受注の決まっていたベトナムの案件も含め、原発輸出の停滞が懸念された。

1st deal since 2011 quake

The Turkish project marks the first time since the start of the Fukushima crisis that a deal has been struck over nuclear plant exports through public-private joint efforts.
　官民の連携で輸出が決まるのは事故後で初めてだ。

This successful regaining of lost ground came after the Abe Cabinet clearly showed it would promote nuclear plant exports.
　安倍内閣が、原発輸出を推進する姿勢を明確にしたことで、巻き返しに成功した。

The project in Turkey is a major one involving the construction of four nuclear reactors at a cost of 2 trillion yen. It is significant that Japan's technology, including that related to quake resistance, has been highly evaluated, beating out Chinese and South Korean rivals. It is hoped the success of receiving the order will boost Japan's nuclear plant exports.
　今回の受注は、原発４基を新設する２兆円の大型案件だ。中国や韓国と競争の末、耐震性など日本の技術力が評価された意義は大きい。これを機に、原発輸出に弾みがつくことが期待される。

It is estimated that as many as 180 nuclear reactors could be built globally by 2035, mainly in Asia and the Middle East, where energy demand is certain to grow.
　２０３５年までに世界で建設される原発は、エネルギー需要の増えるアジアや中東を中心に約１８０基にのぼるとの試算もある。

Exports of nuclear plant technology and other infrastructure, for which a huge amount of external demand can be expected, could serve as a key piece in the growth strategy of the nation, where the domestic market is shrinking due to a declining population.
　巨額の外需獲得が見込める原発などのインフラ（社会基盤）輸出は、人口減少で国内市場が縮小する日本にとって、成長戦略の切り札といえる。

Regarding nuclear plant construction projects in emerging nations, negotiations in many cases have the strong commitment of the governments concerned and also involve aid and security issues. Japan may lag behind such rivals as Russia, whose leader is active in sales promotion in those countries.
　新興国の原発建設には政府が強く関与し、援助や安全保障を絡めた交渉になる例が多い。首脳が売り込みをかけるロシアなど、ライバルに後れを取りかねない。

The government should remain at the forefront and extend comprehensive policy support by fully utilizing public financing and other means.
　日本政府が今後も前面に出て、公的金融などを駆使した総合的な政策支援を行うべきだ。

Setting up a council on overseas economic cooperation and infrastructure export strategies comprising Cabinet members in March, the government has just begun discussions on prospects of nuclear projects and other businesses overseas. We hope the government closely cooperates with the private sector to hammer out effective measures.
　政府は３月、関係閣僚による「経協インフラ戦略会議」を設け、原発ビジネスの展開などについて論議を始めたばかりだ。民間と緊密に連携し、実効性のある施策を打ち出してもらいたい。

Policy vagueness worrying

A cause of concern is the vagueness of the nation's mid- to long-term policy direction on nuclear power.
　気がかりなのは、日本の中長期的な原発政策の方向性が、あいまいなことである。

If the nation enthusiastically promotes sales of Japan-made nuclear plants overseas while refraining from building new nuclear plants or expanding existing facilities at home, it will be difficult to win the confidence of partner nations.
　日本製の原発を海外に熱心に売り込む一方、日本国内では新増設しないというのでは、相手国の信頼は得られまい。

Replacing old reactors at home with the most advanced, safer models one after another would also contribute to significant improvements in the nation's nuclear technology and the nurturing of high-caliber human resources. The government must clarify its energy strategy, which should realistically acknowledge that nuclear power will continue to be used as a major power source.
　国内の古くなった原発を順次、安全性の高い最新型に更新することで原子力技術は一段と向上し、優秀な人材も育つ。原発を主要電源として活用し続ける現実的なエネルギー戦略を、政府は明確に打ち出さなければならない。

The nation should export nuclear plants whose safety has been enhanced with the use of knowledge obtained from dealing with the Fukushima crisis and cooperate with other nations in operating those plants. We consider this is a duty Japan is required to fulfill.
　福島第一原発事故の知見で安全性を高めた原発を輸出し、運用にも協力する。これが日本に求められる責務のひとつである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 6, 2013)
（2013年5月6日01時32分 読売新聞）