Exec KEPCO sees nuclear setbacks after the crisis of the Japan - Reuters

请求通道在等待 00:01:00 以后答复时超时。增加传递给请求调用的超时值，或者增加绑定上的 SendTimeout 值。分配给此操作的时间可能是更长超时的一部分。
Par Cho Mee-young.

SéOUL | Vendredi 29 avril 2011 3 h 56 HAE

Séoul (Reuters) - crise nucléaire du Japon puisse entra?ner un recul de deux ou trois ans sur le marché de réacteur nucléaire, mais la demande augmentera à long terme, un cadre supérieur à la Corée Electric Power Corp a déclaré vendredi.

Pire-sur-record du Japon quake et tsunami le 11 mars paralysa la centrale nucléaire de Fukushima Daiichi, 240 km (150 milles) au nord de Tokyo. Les ingénieurs japonais ont du mal à finir la pire crise nucléaire du monde depuis l'accident de Tchernobyl 1986.

? Crise du Japon peut influer sur le marché dans les deux ou trois prochaines années, mais dans quelques décennies nucléaire demande augmentera en raison d'un manque d'énergie de remplacement, ? Byun Jun-yeon, executive vice president et agent de chef de projet nucléaire au étatiques utilitaire KEPCO, dit dans une interview à Reuters.

Il a dit d'énergies renouvelables continuerait à ne jouer qu'un r?le supplémentaire en raison de son économie pauvre.

Chine semble actuellement être détartrage retour ses plans de centrales nucléaires, mais ne peut pas arrêter, car il est difficile de répondre à leur demande d'énergie énorme sans réacteurs nucléaires, et production d'électricité charbon thermique émet aussi de carbone, "Byun ajouté.

La Chine le mois dernier a gelé approbations nucléaires pour les nouveaux et proposés des centrales nucléaires dans le sillage de la crise du Japon.

PRENANT LE BUT à DES APPELS D'OFFRES à VENIR

Byun, qui s'est spécialisée en ingénierie électrique à l'Université de Corée et KEPCO jointe en 1977, a déclaré que le Brésil, en égypte, en Arabie saoudite, en Argentine et en Afrique du Sud sont préparaient appels d'offres pour les réacteurs nucléaires qui pourraient venir à la fin de cette année.

Il a refusé de discuter des transactions spécifiques, mais ledit KEPCO avait pour but de remporter les appels d'offres et l'Arabie saoudite ont évalué les technologies de fonctionnement du KEPCO réacteur hautement comparés avec d'autres pays.

? Importateurs de réacteur veulent modèles qui garantie la sécurité, l'économie et l'efficacité énergétique... elles veulent aussi des constructeurs qui peuvent les aider à exécuter des réacteurs au moins 20 à 30 ans plus tard, ? a déclaré Byun.

? En Corée du Sud n'a aucune mention de l'accident dans son histoire de fonctionnement du réacteur de près de 40 ans ?, dit-il.

KEPCO a été visant à gagner les ordres outre-mer pour un total de 10 réacteurs nucléaires d'ici 2020. Les émirats arabes Unis en décembre 2009 attribué un contrat de 20 milliards de dollars pour construire quatre réacteurs de 1 400 MW, le plus grand deal énergétique au Moyen-Orient, à un consortium coréen a conduit la KEPCO. (Won coréen $1 = 1073.400)

(édition par Jonathan Hopfner et Michael Urquhart)

View the original article here

The Japan opposition wins by-election in the latest blow to Kan

April 25, 2011, 4: 18 am EDT by Takashi Hirokawa

(Adds denial of the Kan to resign in eighth paragraph).

April 25 (Bloomberg) — the leader of the Democratic Party of the Japan lost a seat in Parliament in the local elections, the last blow to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan as the pressure mounted on its treatment of earthquake and tsunami of last month.Party of the Kan also lost five seats, and won three in 10 contests of head to head with the Liberal Democratic Party in municipal Town Hall yesterday racing, Kyodo News reported. Third party won the race and another result is not yet known, Kyodo said.The results mark the second setback in the elections of Kan following the earthquake and the nuclear crisis that followed last month. The Prime Minister, who this week will submit a 4 billion yen ($49 billion) reconstruction package to the diet, lack of a majority of two thirds of the lower Chamber to override veto power of the opposition-controlled upper House. "The LDP did not say if it will support the plan."Everyone is blaming Kan a lack of leadership, whether or not he deserves it, "said Steven r. Reed, Professor of political science at the Chuo University in Tokyo. "The LDP has shown no leadership either." It can Kan hang? "Three polls last week showed 7 out of 10 voters think that the Government has mismanaged the situation at the nuclear plant of Fukushima Dai - Ichi, which was paralysed by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami. Approval of the Kan rate remained below 30% in the polls by the Asahi, Yomiuri and Nikkei newspapers. "Severe" results "we must accept the results of the election, which were serious," Kan said today in Parliament. "" " However, I will ensure to give my all to the reconstruction of the disaster as well as to deal with the nuclear incident. "Several times, he denied any intention to resign all in being questioned by opposition politicians. Kan took office in June, becoming fifth Prime Minister the since 2006. None of his four immediate predecessors lasts more than a year. "For me to surrender my responsibilities in these circumstances, it would be an impossible choice,"Kan told."LDP candidate Hideki Niwa, 38, received 61% of the vote to win a place in the House of the diet of Aichi Prefecture yesterday, according to the website of the electoral region. The DPJ did not field a candidate in the race after one of its representatives have abandoned the siege in January in an unsuccessful attempt to run for Mayor of Nagoya, largest city of Aichi.Le Nikkei survey showed that less than one-fifth of the voters said that Kan should resign soon. The Mainichi and Nikkei said about 60% of voters favoured integrating the LDP Government, something the party resisted to the. Leader of the party April 14 Sadakazu Tanigaki said that Kan should consider resigning, signalling less cooperation on reconstruction efforts.The LDP, which until 2009 power held for more than 50 years, has refused to approve legislation to sell bonds that would fund about half of the record Yen 92.4 billion budget this year. The initial reconstruction plan will be funded without increasing the new issue of liaison for the year ending March 2012. Funding is a problem for the Japan, who has the burden of the debt doubling the size of the economy.The Democrats lost two races for Governor in April 10 local elections the LDP candidates, the first vote after the earthquake.

-With the help of John Brinsley in Tokyo. Editors: John Brinsley, Patrick Harrington

To contact the reporter on this story: Takashi Hirokawa in Tokyo at the thirokawa@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Hirschberg to phirschberg@bloomberg.net

View the original article here

Zone of disaster in the Japan touring in Australia PM

The first foreign leader to visit the coast ravaged by the tsunami of the Japan, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has expressed shock and sadness to the devastation and visited evacuees in shelter Saturday, giving toy and kangaroos koalas to the excited children.

Through a fishing village where hundreds of people are dead and missing, she said that minamisanriku looked as if she was "bombed into oblivion."

Mayor Jin Sato showed him the Red skeleton of the building of disaster management, where he is was then of a mammoth wave tore its shell on March 11. Exterior stairs were ripped off walls. A small shrine of flowers has been created on a heap of rubble.

Gillard, "It is a scene from the incredible tragedy and incredible sadness," said the last day of a four-day trip.

More than 27 000 people are dead or missing since the earthquake and tsunami. Tens of thousands live in shelters after a 90,000 houses approximately have been destroyed or damaged.

Recovery efforts were complicated by the crisis of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, where the tsunami wiped out power and cooling systems. Workers fought to stop leaks of radiation, and the utility said bring the factory fully under control may take all year.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., said Saturday that 30 workers at the plant had exceeded the former limit of exposure to radiation. This limit, 100 millisieverts per year, grew up in the crisis to 250 millisieverts. None of the workers had reached this limit, the company said. Leaks from reactors of plant are stabilized somewhat since the beginning of the crisis, but some interior spaces in the Earth and the tsunami earthquake damaged buildings that have high levels of radiation workers are not able to penetrate.

Hundreds of workers were upsetting to rotating shifts at the plant since the beginning of the disaster, most of them middle-aged men employed by TEPCO or affiliates.

TEPCO spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said managers have been instructed to closely monitor employees arriving to their radiation limits. Measures could be taken include passing workers tasks more risky, as the compensation of radioactive debris, to jobs in the Interior, as Office tasks.

The United States nuclear industry workers are allowed to an upper limit of 50 millisieverts per year. A typical individual would absorb six millisieverts per year from natural and artificial sources such as x-ray.

Radiation experts said the cumulative doses of 500 millisieverts have been demonstrated that raise the risk of future cancers. Evidence is less clear on smaller quantities, but in theory, any increased radiation exposure raises risk of cancer.

Irradiation, which develops from acute exposure, sets 1,000 millisieverts. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and hair loss.

Workers also face problems of health based on fatigue and the stress of work in the harsh environment, a doctor who speaks told them this week. He stated that the workers of insomnia, dehydration and high blood pressure; run the risk of developing depression or heart problems.

Accessibility links

View the original article here

Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report - AFP

Advisor of said Japan decline of the nuclear threat: report (AFP) - 4 hours ago

TOKYO - The Japanese Advisor special of the Prime Minister on nuclear crisis says that the immediate risk of a leak of major radiation of the power plant of Fukushima decreased, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Government could not say the situation had been completely stabilized at the factory, but after studying the possibility of a serious deterioration Tokyo was comfortable with the current of the evacuation policy, Goshi Hosono said the paper in an interview on Saturday.

"There is no way Tokyo or Kyoto will be in danger," said Hosono, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Naoto Kan on the management of the nuclear crisis.

The atomic plant, where the reactor cooling systems have been eliminated, was struck by a series of explosions and radiation leak in the air, ground and sea in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl world 25 years ago.

The Government imposed a 20 kilometre (12 mile) exclusion zone around the plant, giving legal weight to an exclusion zone for fear of the effect of exposure to radiation on residents long term last week.

More than 85,000 people have left for shelter areas around the plant, including a wider zone of 30 km, where people were said to remain in the Interior and later urged to leave.

Hosono said of the levels of radiation in damaged reactors must be lowered before work would be carried out, and they had to find ways to treat the water contaminated by radiation of efforts to cool the reactors and spent fuel rod pool.

Workers poured thousands of tons of radioactive water at low altitude, in the Pacific Ocean, the concern of contamination of the marine environment concerned neighbouring countries.

"Our objective is very clear: preventing the spread more radiation in the atmosphere and the ocean,"Hosono told the paper."."

"To achieve this, we need to restore stable cooling functions." It is technically extremely difficult. ?

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, said that he does not expect a "cold shutdown" of all the reactors for another period of six to nine months.

Hosono said officials had begun to examine the causes and treatment of the nuclear accident.

"When we look at the accident, it will naturally become clear where the problems were, including issues with the Japan nuclear regulatory policy," he told the paper.

Hosono, Member of the Democratic Party of the Japan to power said that it was not the right time to decide whether the country should turn to non-nuclear energy sources or continue to continue to use atomic power.

I just don ' t think we can make a judgment dispassionate in the current atmosphere, "the cited book telling him."

"For the moment, we must maintain options and let the people decide in time".

DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada Friday, said the Government would review its policy of energy in the light of the disaster, but could be established with nuclear energy.

Japan poor in resources, very dependent on oil from the Middle East, brings about a third of its energy needs, nuclear power, but its high-tech companies are also world leaders in numerous environmental and energy technologies.

Copyright ? AFP 2011. All rights reserved. "More".

View the original article here

Japan govt OKs quake relief budget, eyes more spending - Reuters

* The Japanese large public debt is obstacle to the reconstruction of spending

* Packages more spending to follow, new debt and tax hikes in the framework

* To consider the Japan not now facing a Greece-style debt crisis but concerns

* Lobby business calls for budgetary discipline, monetary easing (adds business Hall proposals)

By Tetsushi Kajimoto

(TOKYO, April 22, Reuters) - the Japanese Government approved a budget for emergency of 4 billion yen (50 billion dollars) for the Friday disaster relief without resorting to new loans, but it is preparing them for more heavy reconstructionmore later this year spending will require a new bond issue and, eventually, to increase taxes.

Enormous funds needed for reconstruction after the March 11 earthquake and the tsunami, which left nearly 28,000 dead or missing and triggered a nuclear crisis, but the Japan has already public debt already double the size of its economy of $ 5 trillionthe worst among industrialized.

"With this budget, we let one step towards reconstruction after the earthquake, the Tohoku and to restart the economy" Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told journalists after a cabinet meeting.

"It is significant that we have compiled on a budget of 4 billion yen without issue of new bonds of the Government (of Japanese Government bonds). "It was quite difficult to reduce the amount of 4 billion yen, but we worked it."

Tokyo believes that material damage alone could top 300 billion dollars in more expensive natural disaster in the world, while analysts and some to the Interior of the Government led by the Democratic Party suggested that Japan might need to spend more than 10 billion yen.

The second supplementary budget should be compiled by the autumn at the latest, Katsuya Okada, Secretary General of the Democratic Party, said Thursday.

THESE INCREASES

The Government plans to increase taxes, including sales tax unpopular to fund reconstruction, but there is still a lack of consensus on the politically sensitive issue.

"If the Government can take this opportunity to change the social welfare and tax system, it could be a turning point rather than a point of no return," said Naomi Hasegawa, senior income securities strategist fixed to Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley securities.

"Investors want reassuring that the reconstruction of expenses will be supported by an increase in sales tax", she says, adding that a 3 percentage point hike would generate 7.5 billion yen in additional revenue each year.

JGBS acquired after the Government held its promise not to issue new bonds to finance the first emergency budget, helping to push the performance of 10 years to a minimum of four weeks.

The market players remained nonetheless cautious because the issuance of debt more in the future will need to pay for reconstruction, although the Japan does not now run a Greece-style debt since its public debt crisis is almost entirely held by domestic investors.

Emphasis on the concerns of investors, largest business lobby of Japan has urged the Government to ensure that the market is confident in its budgetary discipline, while the funds for reconstruction are wanted.

"Given the serious budgetary situation of the Japan, attention needs to be paid to the sovereign fluctuation risks and prices of government bonds," he said in a statement.

Nippon Keidanren called for the Central Bank to implement the monetary easing steps more such as stimulate its system for the purchase of goods, stressing that financial markets should remain stable as companies were that it is difficult to issue capital to business.

The cabinet plans to submit the emergency budget--which includes approximately 1.6 billion yen of spending for infrastructure - to the Parliament on 28 April. Noda, said that he hoped that it would be adopted as soon as possible.

The actual size of the supplementary budget is only 305.1 billion yen, with most of the 4.0153 billion yen to military expenditures to be financed by spending cuts in foreign aid and places paid to families with children and other existing programs.

The Government also draws reserves for pension payments - regarded as a sacred cow in a rapidly aging society where each retired will be supported by less than two workers by 2030, and the opposition objected to this approach.

Friday he planned to explain early next month, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said how Tokyo should lead the economy and reconstruction after the disasters of last month. (Yen Japanese $1 = 82.465) (Other reports by Stanley White;) (Editing by Edmund Klamann and Edwina Gibbs)

View the original article here

Japan allocates first 50 billion dollars to rebuild post-quake - Reuters

Members of the Force for the defence of the Japan remove debris that they seek victims in a House damaged in a region devastated by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on April 21, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Toru HanaiBy Linda Sieg and Kazunori Takada

TOKYO. Friday, April 22, 2011 12: 48 a.m. EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - the Japan cabinet approved Friday almost 50 billion dollars in spending for post-earthquake reconstruction, a down payment on the larger public works effort in the country in six decades.

The budget of 4 billion yen ($48.5 billion) emergency, which is likely to be followed by more reconstruction spending packages, is still dwarfed by the overall cost of the damage caused by the earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami$ 300 billion.

"With this budget, we let one step towards the reconstruction... and to restart the economy," Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told journalists after a cabinet meeting.

The tsunami earthquake, magnitude 9.0 15 metres that followed caused the most serious crisis of the Japan since the second world war, killing up to 28,000 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

She also broke a nuclear power plant that began the radiation leak, a situation that said the operator of the plant may take throughout the year to curb.

Markets are keeping a close eye on how much the Government will borrow to finance the reconstruction. Although he kept his promise not to issue new bonds to fund this expenditure class, additional obligations should pay for the reconstruction of future budgets.

Although the Japan debt is twice the size of the economy of $ 5 trillion, it does not face a Greece-style debt crisis because most of these debts owed to domestic creditors rather than foreign banks.

The budget will be submitted to Parliament next week and should be adopted in May.

"CAUSED IN GREAT DIFFICULTY".

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who was accused by opposition politicians, his own party and triple quake survivors of failing to take command of the response of the country to disaster, said to be rebuild is an opportunity for national "Renaissance".

Approval of the Kan rates are extremely low. In a survey released Friday investors, 83% of the interviewees Reuters said they disapprove or strongly disapprove of the administration of crisis management.

The Japan recently exceeded by China, the second largest economy in the world, has been wrong with deflation for years.

But also try to rebuild the northeast of the ruin, Japan also has to cope with the worst nuclear crisis of the world since Chernobyl in 1986, the demolition of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 240 km (150 miles) from Tokyo.

Radiation spilled the establishment after an explosion of hydrogen, and in their battle to cool the fuel cast iron rods, engineers has pumped radioactive water in the Pacific which concerned the neighbours of the Japan on the spread of contamination.

Masataka Shimizu, the President criticized many plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), met in local Governor of Fukushima Yuhei Sato Friday apologizing in person, for the first time that Sato has agreed to see the TEPCO head.

Shimizu, wear blue work clothes, bowed deeply to Sato.

"I apologise from the bottom of my heart for the great caused much trouble people in society."

SATO responded: "I want that collect you the wisdom of the world and to make all possible efforts so that people may think that they can return to their".

Shimizu, whose company has been accused of minimizing risks and ignoring warnings about the risk of an earthquake and the tsunami striking the plant, as well as react poorly to damage, later will visit a centre for evacuation in the city of Kōriyama to offer apology to those forced to leave their homes.

The Japan, said this week that it will prohibit any person entering an area of 20 km around Fukushima Daiichi evacuation (12 miles).

Prime Minister Kan instructed residents in certain regions outside this area to leave to avoid radiation, Yukio Edano top Japanese Government spokesman said Friday, but it was not clear how many people it will affect.

"We have not the number." We work with local authorities, to the compilation of these data, "said an official with Japan nuclear and industrial safety agency.

(Written by Daniel). Magnowski; (Editing by Sugita Katyal)

View the original article here

Ex-Nomura trader overcomes Quake with the Japan Option Hedge Fund

April 20, 2011, 10: 12 am EDT by Tomoko Yamazaki and Komaki Ito

April 21 (Bloomberg) - Go Horiuchi, a former trader at Nomura Holdings Inc., led a 5 percent return with his hedge fund that invests in the options in Nikkei 225 Stock average in March, caused losses of earthquake record of the Japan of alteration.

The Gamma strategy Fund Asia developed, led by Singapore - based Alternative Pte of advisers, began on 1 September with "a few million dollars", aims to increase the size of the Fund of approximately 10 billion yen ($121 million) at the end of the yearsaid Managing Director Ken Fukui. Sherp is in talks with Japanese financial institutions begin to sell the funds locally, he said, refusing to elaborate saying talks are private.Return of March of the Fund compared with slide in the Nikkei 225 Stock average by 8.2% last month a magnitude 9 temblor and the tsunami that ensued crippled a nuclear power plant, creating the worst disaster in the Japan since the second world war. The Fund invests in highly - traded Nikkei 225 Options listed on the Osaka Stock Exchange and limits the losses by trading in derivatives - which give the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security at a fixed price and the dateFukui said. "We are in an interesting period where it is necessary to expect the unexpected as we saw with the disaster in the Japan," Fukui, 48, said in an interview yesterday in Tokyo, where he is on a business trip. "" " Investments to buy downside protections before the earthquake contributed to the return in March. "Volatility SurgesSherp attempts to capture the demand of investors who seek to use the options to protect against loss in their portfolios and increase yields. Investors use options of is to protect against fluctuations in the price of securities that they have to speculate on the price of the action moves or bet that volatility will increase or decrease.The Nikkei Stock average Volatility Index, a gauge of price of the option Japanese, almost tripled in two working days after the earthquake on March 11 to a maximum of two years of 69.88, while the Nikkei 225 fell the most since 1987.The March gain developed Asia Gamma strategy of the Fund also beaten 0.2% return by Hedge Fund Eurekahedge index, which tracks funds more than 2,600 worldwide.Fukui - whose former stays include investment officer head of GCI Asset Management and Fund to Sparx Group Co - and Horiuchi Manager, 35, a former Nomura, derivatives trader in place of the Alternative advisors in January 2010. "" The Fund aims to win a place where investors will be see as a good protection for the downside risks, "Fukui said.

-Editors: Malcolm Scott, Linus Chua.

To contact the reporters on this story: Tomoko Yamazaki in Tokyo at the tyamazaki@bloomberg.net; Komaki Ito in Tokyo at the kito@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andreea Papuc on apapuc1@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Loan application increases Corporate Japan for the first time since 2009

April 20, 2011, 10: 01 am EDT by Aki Ito

(Updates with comment from Economist in the fourth paragraph).

April 21 (Bloomberg)--Japanese demand for pink Bank loans for the first time in two years as a strongest earthquake of the nation on record spurred businesses to borrow.An index of demand for business loans was at 8 in the period between March 11 and April 12, the Bank of Japan said in a survey of loan officers in Tokyo today. It was the first positive reading since April 2009, a sign demand has increased.Companies have sought funds since the disaster, causing cash in circulation increased at the fastest pace in more than five years last month. The Central Bank unveiled a program loan of one year for banks in areas affected April 7 as it grew more concerned about the risks the temblor on the third world economy. "Businesses need to borrow now to keep things like revenue plunge,"said Azusa Kato, Economist at BNP Paribas in Tokyo." "But we could attend the loan application lower if sales and production keep shrinking".Companies sought to 7.5 billion yen ($91 billion) in loans from three banks largest in the country including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. to cope with the disaster.Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. has received applications for approximately 2.5 billion yen in loans, said Shinya Matsumoto, a spokesman for the unit of the largest bank of Japan. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. received requests for approximately the same amount, according to the spokesman for the lenders.The Central Bank loan application index rose 43 points in January 2009, during the global credit crisis, only to start down again in July, a sign that the current outbreak may be temporarysaid Kato. Dragged loans 1.8% in March of last year, the 16th straight drop, a sign request has not yet be reflected in the outstanding loans.Data published since the temblor indicate the slows the expansion of the nation. Exports fell by 2.2 per cent in March, the first drop in more than a year and the consumer and corporate sentiment weakened.

-Editors: Lily Nonomiya, Russell Ward

JT JPY 8306% JT 8316 JT 8411

To contact the reporter on this story: Aki Ito in Tokyo at the aito16@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Panckhurst in the ppanckhurst@bloomberg.net

View the original article here

Japan said the zone of exclusion nuclear plant - Associated Press

Japan said the exclusion zone around the plant (PA) nuclear - 48 minutes ago

TOKYO (AP) - Japan declared a zone of 12 miles (20 kilometres) to evacuate around its plant tsunami-crippled nuclear a zone of exclusion Thursday, urging residents to comply with the order in the interest of their own safety.

Secretary General, said Yukio Edano Government order took effect at midnight, was intended to prevent the unrestricted entrance in the mainly desert zone ordered evacuated after the tsunami and earthquake in the month last sinking of power of the plant in Fukushima Dai-ichi and cooling systems.

He gave no details of penalties for violating the order.

"We beseech the understanding of residents." We really want to residents not to enter the areas, "said Edano. "Unfortunately, he y still some people in the fields."

Officials, said that the order was intended to limit exposure to radiation from leaking from the plant and to control the entry to prevent theft.

Edano said authorities would arrange for residents to return for about two hours collecting the assets needed brief visits. Residents must go through radiation screening, he said.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan was visiting the region Thursday to meet with local officials and evacuees to discuss plans for the strict application of the evacuation zone.

Residents of almost of all the area around 80,000 left when the area was evacuated on March 12, but some were his return and police could not legally block.

Copyright ? 2011 the Associated Press. All rights reserved.

View the original article here

Japan Stocks gain for the second day as pay U.S. Show recovery

April 20, 2011, 10: 23 pm EDT by Norie Kuboyama and Satoshi Kawano

April 21 (Bloomberg) - Japanese stocks advanced for a second day after that companies American, including Apple Inc. reported an increase in profits and oil prices soared, signaling that the global economic recovery is accelerating.

Sony Corp., most major exporter of electronics of the Japan, gained 1.7 per cent. Renesas Electronics Corp. and other manufacturers of semiconductor and advanced tools after Qualcomm Inc., the large manufacturer of mobile phone chips, reported profit that topped estimates. Inpex Corp., Explorer of the No. 1 oil, jumped to 4.2%. Nissan Motor Co. increased by 1.9% after the automaker said that it will boost shipments of electric cars.The Nikkei 225 Stock average rose 0.6% to 9,662.67 11 hours trading pause in Tokyo. The broader Topix gained 0.3 percent to 839.65, with approximately four actions on the rise since all three fell. "American companies, especially tech stocks are wear well, and which helps to create confidence,"said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees the words of 600 million dollars in assets in Tokyo at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co.""Investors are looking to take a little more risk".

-Editor: Jason Clenfield, John McCluskey.

To communicate with journalists for this story: Norie Kuboyama in Tokyo at the nkuboyama@bloomberg.net; Satoshi Kawano in Tokyo, at skawano1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Increase in Stocks of the Japan for the first time in four days on U.S. housing starts

April 20, 2011, 2: 47 PM EDT by Norie Kuboyama and Satoshi Kawano

April 20 (Bloomberg) - Japanese stocks advanced near two weeks after the U.S. implemented construction increased and revenues exceeded estimates to companies, including Johnson & Johnson, the largest in the world of signaling economy is recovering.

FANUC Corp., largest maker of the Japan of industrial robots, gained 2.3%. Toshiba Corp., Advantest Corp. and other chip manufacturers and related tools of advanced after Intel Corp. sales forecast that can top estimates. Inpex Corp., most of the country's oil Explorer, rose to 3.1% increase in the price of the crude.The Nikkei 225 Stock average reached 1.8% 9,606.82 as of the close in Tokyo, the largest gain since April 8. The broader Topix advanced 1.2% to 837.17. Index has decreased about 10 per cent since the magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 which devastated the northeast coast of the Japan and paralyzed a nuclear power plant. "" You are seeing signs in Europe and the United States are always on the road to recovery, "said Hiroichi Nishi, a manager of shares to SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in Tokyo. "That has helped ease the nerves."The standard & poor 500 Index gained 0.6% yesterday in New York after the Commerce Department said housing starts increased 7.2% in March from February. Work has begun on 549,000 homes, exceeding forecasts median 520 000 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.Exporters ClimbJapan exporters gained after housing report. FANUC, a manufacturer of equipment for factory obtains approximately 80% of sales abroad, increased by 2.3% to 13,190 yen. Sony Corp., most large exporter of the Japan of electronics, increased by 0.9% to 2,458 yen. Automakers including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co. said.Shares also gained after yesterday in Europe and the US companies reported results that beat projections, help boost confidence in the global recovery. Johnson & Johnson, vendor of second largest in the world of health products, forecast earnings of 4.90 $ to $ 5 a share, better than an estimate of $ 4.80 to $ 4.90 in businesses related to the January.Chip advanced after Intel, the world's largest producer in the World Semiconductor, sales in the second quarter forecasts that high may analysts estimates. The demand for processors for powerful machines that manage Web services is outweigh personal computer slower growth, said the company based in Santa Clara, Californie.Intel stimulates the ChipmakersToshiba, the second global manufacturer of chips used to store photos and music in smartphones and other portable devicesrose 3.7% to 416 yen. Advantest, the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductor test equipment and Elpida Memory Inc., exclusive manufacturer of the Japan of PC memory, also rose.Toshiba received boost after Nomura Holdings Inc. reiterated its "buy" rating on the company, saying that chip company would drive earnings, even as sales related to nuclear energy in the fall following the disaster of last month. Shares of the company, which makes everything from semiconductors to atomic plants, have fallen 17 percent since the earthquake and tsunami that caused explosions and radiation leak in Fukushima Dai-Central Ichi of Tokyo Electric Power Co..Currency of weak Japan, giving relief to exporters in the country. The depreciated yen low as 119.67 against the euro today in Tokyo, compared with 117.24 end of stock trading yesterday on speculation, the Central Bank European will raise interest rates. Against the dollar, currency of Japan weakened the 82.44.Oil 83.10 and trading companies of such as the rise in the price of crude oil and metal. Inpex reached 3.1 per cent yen 601,000 after crude oil for may delivery gained $1.03 to $108.15 US per barrel yesterday in New York. Mitsubishi Corp., largest trader of the Japan-based products, advanced after the London Metal Exchange six metals Index had its biggest gain in nearly two weeks.

-With the assistance of Toshiro Hasegawa in Tokyo. Editors: Jason Clenfield, Nick Gentle.

To communicate with journalists for this story: Norie Kuboyama in Tokyo at the nkuboyama@bloomberg.net; Satoshi Kawano in Tokyo, at skawano1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Japan may prohibit access nuclear plant

The Japan plans to prohibit access to the area evacuated around a nuclear plant damaged in the month last earthquake and tsunami.

Up to 80,000 people lived in the area of 20 km around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants, but almost all of them have left.

However, a few people have been back to check their home, despite the police.

The nuclear power plant has been leaks radiation since its cooling system has been damaged in the earthquake on March 11 and the subsequent tsunami.

Now, officials are indicating for the first time that the area around the plant can be concluded.

"We are considering implementation areas of caution as an option to limit effectively the entry," said the Secretary General of Government Yukio Edano.

He said that Prime Minister Naoto Kan will discuss the closure when he travels in the region to meet with local officials Thursday. Kan will also visit a nuclear crisis management centre.

Noriyuki Shikata, Member of Edano, said more details on how the access could be controlled are still developed.

"There are a number of people who can enter the area." Under the current regime, we are not able to enforce legally - there is no penalty for entering in the box. There is awareness of the need for a stronger application of the region, said Shikata.

Also, Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the nuclear power plant, said Wednesday that it distributes compensation claims for people forced to leave the region. The company offers approximately 12 000 US $ per person in initial compensation.

The Associated Back press folders of accessibility links

View the original article here

Most Asian Stocks rise as automakers Gain of Japan, BHP retreats

April 12, 2011, 9: 16 pm EDT by Anna Kitanaka

April 13 (Bloomberg) - Asian stocks oscillés between gains and losses that Japanese automakers gained after Nomura Holdings Inc. said the actions have been "survendues," offset downward by the producers of the products at low prices of oil and metal.

Toyota Motor Corp., the world largest manufacturer, rose by 0.8%, while Honda Motor Co., manufacturer of no. 2 of the Japan by the market value, increased by 2.1%. BHP Billiton Ltd., the world no. 1 mining company, fell by 0.9% in Sydney. Mitsubishi Corp., trader products most important to the Japan, lost 1.2% in Tokyo. Kansai Electric Power Co. led less generating energy in the Japan after the Yomiuri newspaper reported other utilities can be invited to contribute to compensate the victims of the accident at the nuclear plant of the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Fukushima Dai - Ichi .the MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed at the 134.74 10 h 12 in Tokyo. The measure fluctuated between gains and losses at least five times today.About three stocks gained for both fell on the Asia-Pacific MSCI index. The gauge has increased for three consecutive weeks, as Japanese companies resumed production after the earthquake of last month, and as an improvement in the US economy strengthened optimism the global recovery can be maintained.Nikkei 225 Stock average of the Japan gained 0.5%, the first advance in three days. S & P/ASX 200 Index the Australia rose by 0.3% and New Zealand of NZX 50 index slipped 0.1%. The index of the Korea of southern ABN added 0.3 percent.U.S. StocksFutures index Standard & Poor of 500 acquired 0.2% now. Yesterday, the measure fell 0.8 percent, as the Japan increased the rating of the gravity of the nuclear crisis to the highest level, oil plunged and estimates of sales in Alcoa, the largest producer of aluminum of U.S.failed.Discretionary inventory of consumers, including Japanese manufacturers increased the biggest advantage of the 10 MSCI index of Asia Pacific industry groups today.Nomura has reiterated its "buy" rating on Honda, saying that the stock was oversold as income of the company should recover sharply in the second half of the year ending in March 2012. The brokerage said gains of Nissan Motor Co. would also be rebounding after an earthquake record and tsunami March 11 damaged supply chains and disrupted production.Crude oil for may delivery plunged 3.3% to $106.25 US per barrel in New York yesterday, the lowest since March 30, after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. provide a "substantial" correction of the price of fuel. The International Energy Agency and the Monetary Fund International said that over US $100 a barrel oil prices begin to hurt the world economy.Japanese electricity companies may be invited to contribute to a compensation fund for victims of the accident at the nuclear plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co. Fukushima Dai-Ichi, said the newspaper Yomiuri.Utilitaires can contribute as much as 50 billion yen for each nuclear plant they operatethe newspaper reported, without saying where it obtained the information.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 2 percent this year through yesterday, from gains of 4.5 per cent by the & S P 500 and 0.2 per cent by the Stoxx 600 Index of Europe. In the Asian benchmark stocks are valued at 13.1 times considers an average of the earnings, compared to 13.5 times for S & P 500 and 11.2 times for Stoxx 600.

-Editors: Nick Gentle.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anna Kitanaka in Tokyo, at akitanaka@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Japan reduced its economic assessment as supporters of earthquake damage

April 12, 2011, 10: 19 am EDT by Aki Ito

April 13 (Bloomberg)--the Japanese Government has reduced its assessment of the economy, for the first time in six months after the earthquake on March 11 killed more than 12,000 and led to the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

"Even if the Japanese economy was picking up, he showed weakness" since the temblor, the Cabinet Office said in a report today in Tokyo. A lack of power resulting from a crippled nuclear facility, threaten to delay in the resolution of supply chain disruptions and rising prices of oil in pushing growth, he said.Economic and fiscal policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, said yesterday the effect of the economic disaster was greater than anticipated, plans for reconstruction of the indication can exceed Government projections. The Bank of the Japan last week established an emergency loan facility to help affected companies and warned that the event will be exercising a "strong downward pressure" on the third world economy. "There is so much uncertainty surrounding the Outlook, analysts Mizuho Research Institute wrote in a note this week. "We always know the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake and it is more and more research as the nuclear issue will be prolonged."Officials yesterday raised the level of severity of the accident at the nuclear plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co. has to match the level of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The Japan is expanding its evacuation area surrounding facilities and has interrupted shipments of vegetables containing radioactive material over the legal limit.Stimulus PackagePrime Minister Naoto Kan aims to compile a stimulus package this month, the cabinet members say could be as large as 4 billion yen (47 billion dollars).Manufacturers of Fujitsu Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. was not in a position of some of their facilities to reopen a month after the disaster and intact plants had cut operations to face power shortages. Damage by the earthquake will be as much as 25 billion yen, the Cabinet Office said producer price for March 23 increased at the fastest rate in 28 months in March, pushed to the top by the highest commodities and the constraints of supply after the earthquakeshowed a report of the Bank of the Japan published today.The fees companies pay for energy and unfinished goods rose 2% a year earlier, more than the estimate of 1.9% median gain of 27 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The number of items cost more exceeded those which become cheaper for the first time in nearly two years, signs that deflationary pressure is facilitated.Exports may decline, production stagnated and consumer spending is weakening, according to the report of today who downgraded all three of these components of. A survey of purchasing managers showed manufacturing deteriorated at the fastest rate at least nine years in March. Confidence among consumers of the Japan the nearest dealers plunged to a record pace since the Government began to track data in 2000.The, Ministry of finance is expected to release its report on the trade for March April 20. Data on retail sales are 27 April and industrial production reports are due on April 28 of the Ministry of trade.

-With the help of Mayumi Otsuma in Tokyo. Editors: Lily Nonomiya, Ken McCallum

% JPY

To contact the reporter on this story: Aki Ito in Tokyo at the aito16@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Panckhurst in the ppanckhurst@bloomberg.net

View the original article here

Nuclear fears keep shippers are wary of a trip to the Japan - Reuters

Foreign crews are reluctant to go to Tokyo Bay

* Shippers being obliged to use ships to the Japan

* Japan exec urges countries not steps to respond to the crisis

Randy Fabi and Harry Suhartono

(Singapore, April 13, Reuters) - foreign crew members remain reluctant to travel nearly quake-crippled nuclear power Japan, including some ports outside the exclusion zone, forcing shippers to use rather Japanese vessels to transport goods, executives of the industrysaid.

The shipping companies have been providing members of the crew travelling in the area of Tokyo Bay, located 240 km (150 miles) of the damaged nuclear complex the Fukushima, with special anti-radar costumes, Geiger counters and medicine.

This was despite daily insurance of the Department of transportation of the Japan that radiation levels in the region, which included major container ports, Tokyo and Yokohama, and the oil port of Chiba were at a level "very safe".

"The crews do not want to go there." Same Chiba, crews are not yet determined to go, "Kyuho Whang, CEO of SK Shipping South Korea, said to journalists at a Conference of the Singapore industry.

"If they rely more on Japanese ships that foreign ships."

Whang did not say which companies were forced to use Japanese ships.

NOT YET VERY WIDESPREAD

The use of vessels flying the Japanese flag was not yet very widespread, but a senior executive, who wished not to be named, it could become commonplace if more in more foreign, said shipping crews decided against travelling to the region.

"We had ships going to the Japan since the tsunami," said Morten Arntzen, President of the overseas Shipholding Group U.S. appearing on the list.

"The captain of the ship has full authority to say that we will not y and that authority will not second guessed.".

Japan limited marine traffic 30 km of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, 80 km while many shipping companies have imposed a minimum exclusion zone.

View the original article here

Builders Japan rises on the actions of report Survendues; Inpex drops

April 12, 2011, 9: 49 am EDT by Akiko Ikeda

April 13 (Bloomberg)--Japanese manufacturers increased after Nomura Holdings Inc. has called the shares ' oversold, "while energy related dropped on the decline in the course of business."

Honda Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co., second and third constructors of the nation, increased 1.9%. Tokyo Electric is sweeping 13 per cent, the largest gain in the Nikkei 225 Stock average, after a report that the Government may ask other utilities to share the cost of the accident at the nuclear plant of Fukushima. Inpex Corp., the No. 1 oil Japan Explorer, decreased by 1.9% after the crude prices plunged.The Nikkei was little changed to the 9554.9 of 10: 26 pm in Tokyo, after gaining as much 0.5% and 0.4% lower. The broader Topix index was also flat at 838.37. The Topix lost 9.1% through yesterday, after an earthquake of magnitude 9 and March 11 of the tsunami that devastated the coast Northeast and crippled nuclear reactors at a station in the Tokyo Electric power Fukushima.Honda advanced 1.9% 2 916 Japanese yen and was the largest contributor to the gain of the Topix. Nissan climbed 2.4 for cent at 713 yen. Toyota Motor Corp., the world largest manufacturer, increased 0.8 percent Yen Jabuka.Nomura maintained his "buy" rating on Honda, saying that the stock was oversold and the income of the company should recover sharply in the second half of the current fiscal year. The brokerage said Nissan earnings would also be rebounding after the earthquake record of the last month and tsunami damaged supply chains and disrupted production.Tokyo Electric ElectricTokyo sweeps 13 percent Yen 509 after the Yomiuri newspaper reported that the Government may ask Japanese public services contribute as much as 50 billion yen (595 million dollars) for each nuclear plant that they operate to compensate the victims of the accident at the nuclear plant of Fukushima Dai - Ichi .kansai Electric Power Co.collapsed 3.7% to 1,786 yen, while Chubu Electric Power Co. has dropped by 2.7 percent to 1,868 yen.Shares of energy-related companies fell the most among the 33 industry groups of the Topix plunged after the price of the crude. Inpex Corp., the No. 1 oil Japan Explorer, decreased 1.9% to 608,000 yen. Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., second largest driller of the country, withdrew 2.1% to 3,925 yen.Crude oil for may delivery fell yesterday for a third day, plunging 3.3 106.25% $ US per barrel in New York, the lowest settlement since March 30, after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. provide a "substantial" correction of the price of fuel. The International Energy Agency and the Monetary Fund International said that the price of oil above $100 beginning to hurt the world economy.

-Editors: Jason Clenfield, John McCluskey.

Contact the reporters on this story: Akiko Ikeda in Tokyo at the iakiko@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Taiwan stops Atomic reactor construction projects after the crisis of the Japan

April 12, 2011, 10: 50 am EDT by Yu-huay Sun

(Updates with comment from the professor in the fifth paragraph).

April 13 (Bloomberg) - Taiwan Power Co., which operates three plants of atomic power of the island and built a fourth, interrupted plans for additional reactors and will examine the options after nuclear accident of the Japan by the earthquake on March 11.Since the utility known as Taipower cancelled a tender to hire consultants on the addition of two more reactors at its nuclear plant No. 4 under construction, Chief Engineer Roger Lee said yesterday. The Government has also frozen a review of the application of the public service of the State to extend the licence of its no. 1 plant, which operates for 33 years, said Lee. "Taipower would rather take longer and spend more money to the public do not worry,"Lee said in an interview in the capital Taipei. The company is studying how to strengthen the capacity of the stations to resist earthquakes and tsunami, he said.Taiwan and the Japan are on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an earthquake-prone area. Three factories of Taipower, as the station of Fukushima Dai-Ichi disaster age of 40 years North of Tokyo, are near the ocean. They provide about 20 percent of the power of the island and are as close as five kilometres (3 miles) of a fault active quake, according to Lee.Reactors in the quake-prone areas must be redesigned to make them more resistant, an investment that could reduce their original cost advantage, said George Hsu, a professor in the Department of applied economics National University Chung Hsing of central Taiwan.Beach Resorts "It's a question of benefit and cost", Hsu said today by phone. "You have to pay a price to renounce nuclear energy and whether the cost is bearable."Plant No. 2 Taiwan is 22 km from Taipei and no. 3 is a national park and six kilometres from the coastal town of South of Hengchun, site of several resorts.The utility had considered as adding ten reactors at existing sites to reduce the dependence on coal and gas, Vice-President Taipower Hsu Hwai-chiung said.Taiwan imports about 99% of its energy needs. The island has begun commercial operations at its first reactor in 1978, after the world of energy crisis. In 1985, the island built six reactors at three sites. "Nuclear power as a source of reliable and sustainable energy, we have to take risks"with the potential for earthquakes and tsunamis to assign to Taiwan, said Lee."Replace NuclearThe generators provided 24 per cent of electricity from Taiwan in February, to 3 percent of the combustion of petroleum, 23% of gas and 41% of coal, compared according to the site.The utility runs reactors 93% of the time, compared to a seventh for solar panels and a third for wind turbines, Lee said. "It is not easy to replace nuclear power with renewable energy,"he says. Taipower may increase natural gas generators to compensate the impasse plans of expansion of reactors, he said.President Ma Ying-jeou, who took office in May 2008, has pledged to reduce emissions to the levels of 2000 by 2025. Officials, including the former first Minister Liu Chao-shiuan, called nuclear option to help reduce carbon.Taipower applied to the authorities there are almost two years to extend the life of its nuclear plant No. 1, which is allowed to operate for 40 years, according to the suspended Lee.Expansion "now, the expansion plan is suspended,"he says. ". Taipower may take measures, including the strengthening of their foundations and erect Gates the water higher to strengthen safety in factories after March 11 temblor in the Japan, he said.The earthquake of magnitude 9 off the coast of the northeastern coast of the Japan and the subsequent tsunami led to what Kan Naoto Japanese Prime Minister called the worst crisis since the second world war.The total amount of radiation released from the crisis at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Fukushima plant may eventually exceed that of the Chernobyl disaster, an official Tepco said yesterday.Disaster of 1986 of the nuclear plant of Chernobyl Ukraine widespread as high as 9 kilometers of debris in the air and released radiation combined 200 times the volume of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a 2006 report commissioned by the expansion of the Green Party.Taipower nuclear Europe is at a standstill since the 1980s. The beginning of its nuclear station No. 4, first proposed in 1980, has been delayed five times at the end of next year for reasons of security and the rising costs of.More strict InspectionsThe company can push this back more on government orders more stringent inspections before allowing the fuel load, Lee said last month, after the accidents of Fukushima. Construction 93% completed at the end of February.After March 11, temblor, issued Taiwan a tsunami warning its northern coast, where are located the nuclear stations 1, 2 and 4 of the Taipower. Plants have not been damaged by the waves.Advanced boiling reactor water station No. 4, designed by General Electric Co., have been installed, Lee said. Taipower is cable and inspect the instruments on the site, he said. Change the design of the reactor is not necessary that they are "already the most advanced", said Lee. The company does not have a new date of departure from the station.Taiwan sits on the faults or fractures geological, between the sea of the Philippines and Eurasian Continental tectonic plates. Earthquakes are more likely that the plates push together, stimulate concern perhaps dangerous zone for nuclear power plants.Deadly QuakesIn September 1999, a temblor centered 150 kilometres South-South-West of Taipei killed about 2,500 people.In December 2006, Taipower stopped its central station nuclear No. 3 for the inspection, after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near southern Taiwan, killing at least two people. The station is facing potential tsunamis of the pit of Manila in the South China Sea, said Lee.Taipower averted fatal incidents in its nuclear plants and takes measures, such as the design of the standard response to several disaster proceduresto prevent crises similar to that of Fukushima, he said. Each of the stations Taipower has three alternative generators more than Dai-Ichi complex, he said. "If there is something that we have not quite done, we will improve, Lee said.

-With the help of Janet NGO in Taipei. Writers: Todd White, John Viljoen

To contact the reporter on this story: Huay Yu Sun in Taipei to ysun7@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Amit Prakash to aprakash1@bloomberg.net

View the original article here

The Japan PM asks urges calm as raised nuclear level

Prime Minister urges public not to panic after the Government boosted the level of severity of the crisis in a nuclear power plant it in the damaged by the tsunami to the highest rating - on an equal footing with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people in a television address to focus on the recovery of the disaster of the country.

He said "Right now, the situation of the nuclear reactor at the Fukushima plant has been stabilizing step by step". "The amount of radiation leaks is declining." "But we are not at the stage but where we can let our guard."

Japanese regulators said that they raised the rating of five to seven after new leaks of radiation of the Fukushima Daiichi plant assessments.

Monitoring of nuclear power in the country, said that, while the stricken plant radiation emission rate is only about 10 percent of this output to Chernobyl, the crippled Japanese facility issued still an enormous amount of radioactive substances that pose a risk over a large area.

So far, the Chernobyl disaster, in Ukraine was the only event assessed at level 7. The crisis of Fukushima was evaluated previously at level 5, the same as the incident at Three Mile Island 1979 in Pennsylvania.

Although the upgrade was spectacular, two - Fukushima and Chernobyl - disasters are not that similar, experts say that.

Chernobyl, it was the heart of the reactor itself exploded, releasing an enormous amount of radioactive material in a very short time. Fukushima had a less critical hydrogen explosion. And the total amount of the radioactive particles released so far seems to be only a small fraction of that observed in Ukraine.

Japan nuclear agency official Hidehiko Nishiyama said 29 people had died of acute radiation at Chernobyl, but no there were no fatal to Fukushima radiation losses.

The upgrade has at least two new earthquakes with a magnitude of Japan hit Northeast 6.0 Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The region was rocked by numerous aftershocks since then. Up to what the subducting plate moved in position, all quake in the area of rupture-- in this case, 300 kilometres long by 150 kilometres wide on the coast of the Japan which is less force that the initial earthquake is regarded as a rebuttal.

Workers operate world mounted on a truck, a modified Putzmeister 70Z, most large concrete pump to pump water contaminated unit 4 of the nuclear power plant in Fukushima Daiichi Tuesday. (Tokyo Electric Power Co./Associated Press)

It is believed that the 9.0 magnitude 11 March earthquake and the tsunami, that it has generated have caused damage of $ 310 billion. Japanese officials have updated the balance sheet of the victims of the disaster of 13,219 people. More than 14,000 others are still missing and more than 145 000 people living in the centres of evacuation across the country.

Fukushima Daiichi plant was spewing radiation since disasters and even a month, officials say they don't know how long it will take to cool reactors there.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed concern Tuesday radiation reaches the ocean. He told his Japanese counterpart that the country must seriously examine the effects on the marine environment and the neighbours of the Japan.

He also reminded Prime Minister the it must strictly respect international law and the question of full reports in China.

In a gesture without report with replicas of Monday, the Japanese Government is expanding the area to evacuate around the plant 30 kilometres from 20, citing the risks of the cumulative radiation exposure.

The most recent calculations of the Japan Nuclear Safety Commission found that a zone stretching 60 kilometres north of the nuclear power plant and 40 kilometres to the South were, in the month since the earthquake, have been exposed to radiation equivalent to the annual dose limit. In the old zone of 20 kilometres of evacuation, the radiation exposure has reached up to 100 times the annual limit.

The factory itself, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., known as TEPCO, has resumed efforts to contain the radioactive leak of the plant, after a delay of one day because of strong aftershocks.

TEPCO will begin pumping contaminated water from the reactor No. 2 of Tuesday and transfer to a condenser, after verification of the safety equipment.

The radioactive water was impeding the work to restore the functions of cooling in the damaged reactors. He also resumed by injection of nitrogen, in the containment of the reactor No.1 vase late in the night of Monday said TEPCO. Which aims to prevent other explosions of hydrogen.

The Associated Back press folders of accessibility links

View the original article here

Rise of energy companies, to the Japan builders motor slide as Citi cuts rating

April 10, 2011, 11: 04 am EDT by Akiko Ikeda and Toshiro Hasegawa

11 April (Bloomberg)--Japanese stocks oscillés between gains and losses that Tokyo Electric Power Co. surged for a second day and automakers fell after Citigroup Inc. downgraded the country's automotive sector.

Asia largest utility, Tokyo Electric, rebounded after sliding close to 80 percent since March 11, earthquake and tsunami that paralyzed its nuclear reactors at Fukushima. Kansai Electric Power Co. increased by 1.4% after the utility has agreed to buy two Australia coal-fired power plants. Toyota Motor Corp., manufacturer of no. 1 in the world, lost of 2.1%.The Topix index was unchanged at 853.1 11 hours break in Tokyo trade, with about twice as many stocks advancing as recedes. The average Stock Nikkei 225 dragged 0.3 per cent to 9,736.07. "One month has elapsed since the disaster and investors are beginning to see more clearly the impact on the economy and corporate profits, said Kenji Sekiguchi, General Manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., which oversees about $ 75 billion. "Speculators are buying shares Tepco.".Futures index Standard & Poor of 500 increased from 0.2% today. In New York, the index fell 0.4% to 1,328.17 April 8 rally of oil at a 30 month high led transport shares and investors speculated that a struggle in the Congress of the United States on the federal budget may close the Government for the first time since 1996 .magnitude-9 EarthquakeThe Nikkei 225 dropped a 6.4% through April 8 since March 10, a day before an earthquake of magnitude 9 record and tsunami struck on the Japan. Stocks in the benchmark Japanese are evaluated to 14.6 times estimated earnings averaged 13.7 times for the S & P 500 and 11.4 times for the 1600 Stoxx Tokyo Electric climbed 13 percent Yen 475, the second - largest gain in the Nikkei 225. Kansai Electric increased 1.4 percent Yen 1.841, after the company and Sumitomo Corp. has agreed to buy two Griffin energy central coal in Australia .mining of Western companies and energy acquired the most on the Topix index. Inpex Corp., Explorer of the Japan greater energy, rose by 2.2 per cent to 649,000 yen. Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., the second biggest oil driller, advanced 2.1% at 4,170 yen.Crude oil for may delivery rose by 2.3% to $112.79 US per barrel in New York on 8 April, the highest settlement since September 22, 2008. Oil advanced for a fourth day as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has intensified its air campaign on the Libya and the desire disorders may extend to other exporting countries of energy in the medium DeclineCarmakers East.Carmakers had the fall the most among the 33 industry groups in the Topix. Toyota lost 2.1% 3 270 yen. Honda Motor Co. has sunk 2.1% to 2,908 yen, while Nissan Motor Co. fell by 1.8% to Citigroup as Noriyuki Matsushima 701.Analyste yen cut its rating on the companies "sell" from "buy" Japan auto and reduced the price of the action of the estimates on automakers. Matsushima said total losses in the sector of operation may be the largest ever after the earthquake of last month disrupted the supply of parts and electricity limited to plants.Sharp Corp., an electronics manufacturer, fell 1.2% 768 yen after the company suspended the production of two factories of the liquid crystal display after the earthquake caused a shortage of gas used to run equipment.Companies usually reduce output rather than halting production, pure and simple, so the decision was a "surprise", Takashi Watanabe, an analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. wrote in a report dated today.

-Editors: Jason Clenfield, John McCluskey.

To contact the reporters on this story: Akiko Ikeda in Tokyo at the iakiko@bloomberg.net; Toshiro Hasegawa in Tokyo at the thasegawa6@bloomberg.net.

To contact the responsible editor of the story: Nick Gentle at ngentle2@bloomberg.net.

View the original article here

Japan fails to stop radioactive discharges in ocean - Reuters

Anti-nuclear demonstrators shout slogans during a demonstration across from the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) headquarters in Tokyo on April 10, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Issei KatoBy Chisa Fujioka and Shinichi Saoshiro

TOKYO. Sun, April 10, 2011 10: 13 EDT

TOKYO (Reuters) - the Japan to extend the zone to evacuate its plant plans nuclear crippled because of high radiation levels, media and reported Monday, with the engineers do closer to regain control of six reactors hit by a giant tsunamia month ago.

Concerned about the inability of Japan contain its nuclear crisis, caused by a March 11 earthquake and the tsunami, is mounting with the Party of Prime Minister Naoto Kan suffered embarrassing local election losses on Sunday and China's neighbors and the Korea of the South expressing criticism.

Engineers at the plant of Fukushima Daiichi damaged North of Tokyo said Sunday that they were not closer to restore the system of cooling of the plant which is critical if overheated fuel bars must be cooled and placed six reactors under control.

They hope to stop the pumping of radioactive water into the ocean Monday, days later than scheduled.

Four weeks after the worst nuclear crisis since a quarter of a Chernobyl of the last century, the Government was moving to expand an area of evacuation of 20 kilometres (12 miles) due to high doses of radiation, the Asahi newspaper reported.

So far, the Government has refused to expand the area, despite being requested by the international agency of Atomic Energy (IAEA) and countries such as the United States and the Australia advising its citizens to stay 80 kms from the plant.

The Asahi said the Government could expand the area of 30 km in some areas, according to the direction of the wind and residents would be given a week to prepare for evacuation.

The Japan Times said authorities would soon close by force the 20 km zone, prevent people to return to their shattered homes search through the rubble of their property.

Governor of Fukushima Yuhei Sato has criticized the policy of evacuation, saying residents within a radius of 20 - 30 km were initially told to stay indoors and then advised to evacuate voluntarily.

"The residents within the radius of 20 to 30 km were really confused on what to do." SATO told NHK television Sunday.

Media reports said that Sato refuses to meet with the President of Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) he visited the area Monday.

It is the worst crisis of the Japan since the second world war after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a huge tsunami battered its northeast coast, leaving nearly 28,000 dead or missing and the third world economy toggle.

BENEFITS POLICIES

Japanese voters Sunday vented their anger at the handling of the Government of the nuclear and humanitarian crisis with Kan in the Democratic Party of the Japan power, losing about 70 seats in local elections.

The unpopular Kan was already under pressure to resign before March 11, but analysts say it is unlikely to be expelled in the crisis, set for months.

View the original article here