Misconceptions

The analysis and feedback from this accident, which we must not underestimate and which was preventable, made it possible to improve the level of safety of nuclear reactors, in Japan and worldwide, with the active and immediate participation of the global nuclear industry.

Public reactions to the Chernobyl accident halted the development of nuclear energy in several countries for 15-20 years or more, increasing the use of polluting fossil fuels.

The transport of radioactive materials from the nuclear industry is strictly regulated due to the diversity of the materials concerned and the safety issues they imply. The most dangerous packages are designed to withstand extreme conditions, such as falls, violent impact, deep submersion, and intense fires.

The prolonged shutdown of Japan's nuclear power plants following the Fukushima accident brutally deprived the country of 30% of its electricity, which is still largely offset by fossil fuels (coal and natural gas), significantly increasing Japan's greenhouse gas emissions.

Unlike renewables such as solar and wind, nuclear power plants can operate continuously, providing stable and predictable electricity generation. Reactor shutdowns are events that occur several times a year and cause nuclear production to vary, but this is nothing like the intermittence experienced by wind turbines and photovoltaic panels.

Nuclear subcontractors, like operator employees, may be exposed to radiation, but exposure levels are strictly regulated and controlled to ensure their safety. There is no distinction made among workers, regardless of the companies they work for.

The natural disaster of March 11th, 2011 (the Tōhoku earthquake, followed by the tsunami) is directly responsible for nearly 18,500 deaths and disappearances. It also caused about 50 industrial accidents, which also had health and environmental consequences. However, the world has essentially retained only the Fukushima nuclear accident, despite its considerably lower consequences to human health.

In accordance with French law, the costs of dismantling and managing nuclear waste are included in the cost of nuclear energy, in the form of mandatory financial provisions established by the operator. These costs are also systematically incorporated into assessments when developing public policies.