“…TOKYO (Reuters) -
Japan’s government on Friday nearly doubled its projections for costs related
to the Fukushima nuclear disaster to 21.5 trillion yen ($188 billion),
increasing pressure on Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) to step up reform and
improve its performance…”
[US$191 billion Jan 2018]
------------------------------//------------------------------
There
is no doubt Japan relied heavily of coal for its energy needs in the early
decades of the 20th century. Whether for electricity generation,
heat or gas, coal would certainly have had significant healthcare costs associated
with pollution: “…Extraction in Japan
during 1912 was 20,000,000 tonnes, in 1932 in 30,000,000 tonnes and grew in
1941 to 55,500,000 tonnes…”
--------------------//--------------------
Nuclear
power generated 1980 – 2012 = 32 years x 220 = 7,040 TWh
Nuclear
power generation commenced in 1966 and reached 80 TWh by 1980.
Nuclear
power generated 1966 – 1980 = 14 years x (80 ÷ 2) = 560 TWh
Nuclear
power generated to 2012 = 7,040 + 560 = 7,600 TWh
--------------------//--------------------
Healthcare
Savings
“…For coal……
associated economic values of health impacts are [2012] $0.19–$0.45/kWh…”.
Average = $0.32/kWh
Add 7.44% for
2018 value: Average = $0.34/kWh = [2018]US$340 million/TWh
7,600 TWh x
$340,000,000/TWh = $2,584 billion.
This represents
the USA saving at a 2014 Healthcare Expenditure of $9,403 per capita.
--------------------//--------------------
But Japan’s
2014 Healthcare Expenditure is only 39.4% of the USA figure [$3,703].
------------------------------//------------------------------
Assuming the relationship
stays constant for 2018:
$2,584 billion
x 0.394 = [2018] US$1,018 billion.
------------------------------//------------------------------
Cost of Fukushima Accidents:
[2018] US$191 billion
Japan’s Nuclear Power Healthcare Savings:
[2018] US$1,018 billion
--------------------//--------------------
FINAL SCORE
ACCIDENTS 1
: SAVINGS 5.3
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