英字新聞

(Mainichi Japan) August 3, 2011
Nuclear energy can be replaced with renewable energy
社説：再生可能エネルギー　原発代替は十分可能だ

The elimination of nuclear power plants cannot be achieved over a short period of time.
　原発依存からの脱却は短時日ではできない。

Therefore, we basically support the government's intention to consider the matter from short-, medium- and long-term perspectives.
政府は「短期」「中期」「長期」に分けて考えるという。基本的に賛成だ。

It is necessary to set a clear timeline if the government is to draw a realistic roadmap toward the goal.
現実的なロードマップを描くには時間軸の設定が不可欠である。

In the short run, there is no choice but to switch to thermal power generation using natural gas.
　短期的には天然ガスによるガス火力発電にシフトするほかない。

The government should promptly initiate its work to do so because it normally takes about a decade to complete a thermal power station, considering the time required to select and procure a site for the facility.
火力発電所の建設には用地選定まで含めれば通常１０年ぐらいかかる。直ちに着手すべきだ。

Circumstances surrounding natural gas have drastically changed.
　天然ガスをめぐる状況は一変している。

The amount of natural gas produced has sharply increased since the technology of extracting gas from shale was established in the United States.
米国で頁岩（けつがん）中のシェールガスを採取する方法が確立し生産量が急拡大した。

Shale gas fields are being developed in China and many other countries in the world.
中国を含め世界中で開発が進んでおり、

The International Energy Agency estimates that the amount of gas consumed on a global scale will increase by 50 percent by 2030.
国際エネルギー機関（ＩＥＡ）は２０３０年までに、世界のガス消費量は５０％増加するという。

The natural gas age has arrived.
「天然ガスの時代」だ。

　◇当面はガス火力で

Germany, which has decided to pursue a society without nuclear power, intends to make up for a shortage of electric power with that generated by thermal power stations.
　脱原発に踏み切ったドイツもガス火力で穴埋めする。

However, the price of natural gas will certainly rise because its demand is expected to sharply expand.
しかし、需要の拡大で価格の上昇は必至だ。

Measures should be taken on a global scale to not only guarantee contracts to purchase gas but also to expand interest in gas field exploitation.
ガスの購入契約の保全だけでなく、ガス田採掘の権益拡大に努めるべきだ。国家的支援を強化する必要がある。

Of thermal power plants using fossil fuels, those powered by coal emit the largest amount of carbon dioxide, a type of greenhouse gas.
　石炭火力発電は化石燃料の中で二酸化炭素の排出量が最も多いが、

However, coal can be stably procured from all over the world, and its price is relatively low.
コストが安く世界各地から安定的に調達できる。

Electric power generated by such plants accounts for approximately 25 percent of electricity consumed in Japan.
我が国の電力の約２５％を占める。

To ensure a stable supply of electricity, Japan will need to maintain its coal-powered thermal electric power plants.
電力の安定供給のため、石炭火力も維持していく必要があるだろう。

Germany relies on coal-powered electric power plants for 41 percent of electricity consumed domestically, far above the ratio in Japan.
ドイツは４１％が石炭火力。日本よりずっとその比率が高い。

In short, there is no choice but to make up for a shortage of electric power as a result of decreasing nuclear power plants with power generated by thermal power stations until the ratio of power generated by renewable energy sources rises significantly.
　再生可能エネルギーによる発電量が増加するまで、火力発電で原発の穴を埋めていくほかないということである。

However, there are problems involving such efforts including a rise in the costs of generating electric power and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
ただ、これにはふたつ問題がある。コスト上昇と温室効果ガスの排出量の増加だ。

According to an estimate made by the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, if all domestic nuclear power plants are shut down, the cost of Japan's imports of fuel will increase by 3.473 trillion yen next fiscal year, increasing the monthly average electricity charge by 1,049 yen per household and by 36 percent for businesses.
　日本エネルギー経済研究所の試算では来年度、全原発が停止すると、燃料輸入費は年間３兆４７３０億円増加し１世帯当たりの月額電気使用料は１０４９円、産業用電気料金は３６％上昇する、という。

Business leaders have expressed grave concern that if a shortage of electric power becomes chronic and electric power rate rises as a result, it will force businesses to shift their factories abroad, speeding up the hollowing out of Japan's industry.
　産業界は電力不足が恒常化し電気料金が上昇すれば、海外への生産拠点の移転が増え産業の空洞化が進むという。

Some view the shortage of electric power as a unique opportunity to transform Japan's economy, which consumes a massive amount of electric power, into one that relies less on energy.
電力多消費型経済から２１世紀型省エネ経済に転換する好機という見方も可能だが、

However, adverse changes in the economy, such as a sharp rise in the unemployment rate, must be avoided by all means.
失業の急増など経済の激変は避けたい。

The hollowing out of domestic industry is very complex and it cannot be attributed solely to a rise in energy expenses.
　そもそも、空洞化問題はエネルギーコストだけでなく

Behind the problem are also various factors such as the sharp appreciation of the yen, inadequate infrastructure for manufacturing, a shortage of human resources that have received advanced education, high corporate tax rates and a lack of leadership ability on the part of the government, which cannot decide whether Japan should participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
円高の進行や生産インフラの不備、高度教育を受けた人材の不足、さらに高い法人税、環太平洋パートナーシップ協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加を決められない政府の指導力不足など、複雑な要因がからんでいる。

The government needs to clarify its stance toward supporting businesses and implement specific measures to that end.
政府はビジネス支援の旗幟（きし）を鮮明にし、きめ細かく手を尽くさなければならない。

If Japan's reliance on nuclear power plants declines, it will be difficult for the government to achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990s levels.
　原発依存度が低下すれば、温室効果ガスを９０年比２５％削減するという政府目標の達成は難しい。

Therefore, it should review its goal.
目標を見直すべきだ。