英字新聞

2011/05/12
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 11
EDITORIAL: TEPCO compensation talks should include industry reforms
原発事故賠償―東電温存にこだわるな

Debate within the government over measures to compensate for damage caused by the accident at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has entered the final phase. But we find the reported contents hard to understand in many ways.
　東京電力福島第一原発事故の賠償策をめぐり、政府内での検討が大詰めを迎えている。だが、伝えられる中身は腑（ふ）に落ちないことばかりだ。

At a time when the entire picture of damage remains unclear, the government is only focusing on how to adjust the interests of concerned parties such as whether to set a cap on the burden borne by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant.
　被害の全容がつかめないなかで、東電の負担に上限を設けるかどうかといった関係者の利害調整ばかりに焦点があたった。

While the government is demanding TEPCO implement strict restructuring measures, it appears the discussion is based on the major premise that it would continue to operate as a listed company.
　政府は東電に対して厳しいリストラ策を求めてはいるが、上場企業としてこれまでどおりの経営を続けることが大前提になっているかのようだ。

We repeat that the most important thing the government must hasten to do in studying compensation measures is to ensure that payments are promptly and adequately made to sufferers, and power supply to areas covered by TEPCO is not disrupted.
　繰り返すが、賠償策を考えるにあたり、政府が急ぐべきは、被害者に対する支払いが迅速かつ十分に行われるようにすることと、管内への電力供給が滞らないようにすることに尽きる。

The purpose is not to "protect" TEPCO. Compensation payments and and power supply can be realized even if the company cannot maintain its current form.
　決して東電を「守る」ことではないし、今の事業形態が維持できなければ、賠償や電力供給が実現できないわけでもない。

If the government clarifies its engagement "to require TEPCO to firmly make payments," there is much room to come up with ideas.
「東電にしっかり支払いを履行させる」という国の関与さえ明確にしておけば、工夫の余地はいくらでもある。

To begin with, the TEPCO problem is inseparable with Japan's electricity and energy policy. It should be debated within a much larger picture.
　そもそも東電問題は、わが国の電力・エネルギー政策と不可分な関係にある。もっと大きな構図の中に位置づけて論じられるべきだろう。

Is it right to sit back and do nothing to change the electric power industry, which has maintained strong ties with politics and the administration while being protected by regional monopolies?
　地域独占に守られながら政治や行政と強く結びついてきた電力産業をこのままにしていいのか。

Will Japan continue nuclear power generation in the future?
今後も原子力発電を続けるのか。

If so, should it leave individual power companies to continue to operate nuclear power plants as they have been doing up to now?
その場合、今までどおり各電力会社に運用を委ねるのか。

Or should they be separated?
それとも切り離すか。

Is it not possible to use funds invested in the nuclear fuel cycle project to reuse used nuclear fuel?
使用済み核燃料を再利用する核燃サイクル事業に投じてきた資金は使えないのか――。

By sorting out these points and coming up with a direction, we should be able to determine TEPCO's ability to shoulder the burden in concrete terms.
　こうした論点を整理し、方向性を打ち出すことで、東電の具体的な負担能力が見えてくるはずだ。

How much can it afford to pay with proceeds from its business and sales of its assets?
事業収益や資産売却で、どの程度の支払い余力が見込めるのか。

A decision must be made based on concrete grounds.
具体的な根拠に基づいた判断が求められる。

In the process, naturally, the responsibility of shareholders will also be questioned.
　その過程では、当然ながら株主の責任も問われるだろう。

Financial institutions will also be required to "shoulder a burden" in some form for their financial claims in general against TEPCO, excluding emergency loans after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
金融機関についても、震災後の緊急対応融資を除く一般債権について、何らかの負担を求めていくことになる。

Still, if payments cannot be met in the end, the public may be required to pick up the tab through an increase in electricity charges.
　それでも最終的に賄い切れなければ、電力料金の値上げなどを通じて国民負担となる場合もある。

Also for that matter, a careful procedure is needed.
そのためにも、丁寧な手順が必要だ。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan gave a news conference May 10 to announce plans to put the government's basic energy policy back on the drawing board and emphasize the development of natural energy sources.
　菅直人首相は１０日の記者会見で、エネルギー基本計画を白紙に戻し、自然エネルギーの開発に力を入れていく考えを表明した。

The way electric power supply is left to 10 companies should also be re-examined in the course of discussion.
今の１０電力体制のあり方も議論の対象にすべきだ。

Repeated attempts to reform the electric power supply system have failed.
　電力改革は過去、何度か試みられては挫折してきた。

The unprecedented crisis this time is a chance to implement drastic reforms.
今回のような未曽有の危機は、大胆な改革のメスを入れるチャンスでもある。