Collapse of the Development Policies in Coal-Mining Regions: Focusing on the Plan to Invite the Oil-Fired Power Plant in Kitaibaraki City

Abstract

This study examines the collapse of the development policies in coal-mining regions, focusing on the plan to invite the oil-fired power plant (OFPP) in Kitaibaraki City. Joban Coal Mine Co., Ltd. was the largest coal mine in the Ibaraki prefecture; this enterprise was affected due to an accident and eventual closure of the Ibaraki mining station in 1971.The disappearance of a key industry not only led depopulation owing to reasons such as the unemployment due to the enterprise’s closure, but also led to the financial deterioration. This scenario led to the plan to an OFPP in the municipality as a policy for development in coalfields. In order to propel the plan, a special committee for anti-depopulation was established under the city assembly of the municipality. However, the citizens, particularly fishermen’s unions undertook a movement to opposing the plan to attract an OFPP. Consequently, the plan did not fall out, as was the mayor of Kitaibaraki. This failure led to another plan to attract a thermal power plant from 1978.