Why does Japan rely on nuclear power?

Nuclear is an outstanding power source for mitigating global warming. Japan’s electric power companies have been striving to utilize nuclear power as the key to combining environmental conservation with economic growth and energy security.

How did the Japanese government react to the Fukushima disaster?

While Japan was reeling from the natural disaster, the authorities imposed an evacuation order with a radius of 20km around the stricken nuclear plant. A total of 109,000 people were ordered to leave their homes, with a further 45,000 choosing to evacuate from places nearby, which added to the turmoil.

How did the earthquake in Japan affect the use of nuclear power plants around the world?

In March 2011, eleven operating nuclear power units shut down automatically during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Three of these at the Fukushima Daiichi plant subsequently caused an INES Level 7 accident due to the 15 m tsunami causing loss of power leading to loss of cooling and subsequent radioactive releases.

What caused the Fukushima power plant in Japan to explode?

At the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the gigantic wave surged over defences and flooded the reactors, sparking a major disaster. Authorities set up an exclusion zone which grew larger and larger as radiation leaked from the plant, forcing more than 150,000 people to evacuate from the area.

When did Japan get nuclear power?

Japan needs to import about 90\% of its energy requirements. Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in mid-1966, and nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority since 1973. This came under review following the 2011 Fukushima accident but has been confirmed.

What happened in Japan with the nuclear power plant?

Following a major earthquake, a 15-metre tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident beginning on 11 March 2011. All three cores largely melted in the first three days.

Was Japan’s government responsible for the nuclear disaster?

TOKYO — A high court in Japan on Wednesday became the first at that level to hold the government responsible for the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, saying in a ruling that the state and the plant’s operator must pay about $9.5 million in damages to survivors.