(LinkAsia: September 7, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In Japan, public opinion is turning toward a complete "build-down" of nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima-Daiichi meltdown. Polls show half the population wants to shut-down all the country's reactors within 15 years. Now, the government's put a price tag on a non-nuclear future. Japanese public broadcaster, NHK, reports that the industry minister says it'll cost 600 billion dollars.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 4, 2012

Reporter:
Yukio Edano spoke at a meeting of cabinet ministers in charge of energy policy. He said the cost of building renewable energy infrastructure would add up. He pointed to the expense of constructing generating facilities and power lines. Edano warned that immediately shutting down reactors would cut the power supply by 30 percent. He said going non-nuclear would weaken the countries bargaining position when buying oil and natural gas. The government has promised to draft a new energy policy. Ministers are working on scenarios for ending nuclear dependence while compensating for lost power generation. 

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Yul Kwon:
The disaster at Fukushima has rippled through other countries in Asia. South Koreans are nervous about building more reactors to add to the 21 already in operation. And in Taiwan, the government just held a big drill to show its readiness in case of an accident with one of the country's six reactors. Here's NHK with the story.

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Reporter:
Workers played out an emergency scenario at the nuclear complex near Taipei. They assumed a natural disaster knocked out all power at the plant and disabled its cooling system.  Firefighters sprayed water to practice bringing a fire under control. Then helicopters, military vehicles and patrol ships moved in.

Helicopter teams are measuring radiation levels around the nuclear power plant just as crews did following the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident. 

Participants practiced measuring radiation on land and sea too. The exercise follows a decision to expunge the area around the nuclear plant subject to radioactive monitoring.  Most reactors are located in the vicinity of densely populated Taipei, and the residents have been increasingly worried after the disaster in Fukushima. Officials at Taiwan's nuclear power regulator say they want to minimize the damage in the event of an accident.  They plan to reinforce the evacuation plans to ensure residents are safe. Naoki Makita, NHK World, Taipei.