NUCLEAR POWER PLANT GAMING GUIDE

introduction

This is a guide of The Nuclear Power Plant Gaming, bundled in this version of SARA. The background information, the detailed contents of the gaming and manuals of each actor are described. This is written for gaming operators, players, who is interested in a nuclear power plant problems, and applications of SARA.

In short, the Gaming handles a process of constructing additional nuclear reactors in the town and there are eight actors.

Nuclear power plant problems

Generally speaking, it is not at all a simple energy problem that where, how, and whether to construct a nuclear power plant. It involves a lot of problems; i.e. (1)discussions on safety and danger of the atomic energy, (2)struggles between opposition group and supporting group in both the town-level and the state-level, (3)negotiations on compensation for residents, a fishermen's union and so on, (4)friction of the town's attitude and the general public in Japan or foreign countries, (5)administration problems of a local government having a nuclear power plant, (6)bargaining between a local and the national government to get subsidy or budget. Thus, it goes without saying that directly or indirectly many people have something to do with the plants.

Background information for gaming

As described above, the construction of a nuclear power plant concerns different problems. Particularly we concentrate on the bargaining process for making an agreement of local area.

There had been two nuclear reactors in the town. They had been founded two years before. Local government, residents, and private companies had received much benefits from the existing nuclear power plant and its good external effects. Moreover, the economic/social influence of the plant had been so great that it had seemed to be impossible for some people to do well without it.

When the plan of additional two reactors appeared, it weighed on all people living in the town in various way. To allow additional plant or not was serious problem.

In addition, the gaming is framed in Japanese-style public enterprise. As is often said, private relationships and negotiations are important.

This gaming searches what happens next in the town. How each actor reacts, and whether nuclear power plants will be build or not.

Actors and their characteristics

There are eight actors in the gaming; an electric power company, Mayor, an opposition/supporting member of the town assembly, supporting/opposition residents, fishermen's' union, and mass media.

Characteristics and properties of each actor is the following:

An electric power company
It plans additional nuclear power plants in the town. [more]

Mayor
S/he represents all the benefit or damage of the town to an electric power company or the national government. [more]

A supporting member of the town assembly
S/he pushes on building additional plants.[more]

An opposition member of the town assembly
S/he is against to construct additional plants.[more]

Supporting residents
S/he admit necessity of nuclear plants. [more]

Opposition residents
S/he object to nuclear plants.[more]

Fishermen's union
It had been compensated for fishing right when the nuclear plant first constructed. [more]

Mass media
It reports occurrences about constructing nuclear power plant. For example, official or unofficial announcement or remarkable behavior of each actor, events that may have influence of a process of constructing, and so on.[more]

Gaming process

Gaming begins with the propsal of constructing additional reactors from the electoric company to Mayor and the assembly. At the same time, the company approaches the fishermen's union with an offer of conpensation. Then, it enables each actor to concern with the process of constructing additional reactors.

The following all three are required to constructing. (1) Mayor and the assembly agree starting a assessment, (2) Mayor and the assembly agree a proposal from the electotic power company, (3) a compensation for the fishermen union is established. Accomplishment of these three means the agreement of the town level and gaming is over. If it fails to accmplish and things come to a deadlock, the gaming is over as well.

Various 'events' happens in the gaming. For example, the assembly is called into session every three month. Mayor and assembly member discuss officialy only when the assembly opens. Mayoral election is is an event, too. Result of the election reflects residents' mind of that time. Which candidate fishermen's union support is also important. Another type of events is that happens in the outside of the gaming situation. For example, it is an accident in other power plant, economic depression or prosperity, and so on.



Last modified: Thu Dec 3 00:10:33 JST 1998