2015 Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 316-329
This study identifies the stakeholders and their interests and clarifies the potential disputes and its prevention measure to realize a harmonious coexistence of geothermal resource between small power generation and hot spring utilization by stakeholder analysis in Beppu which has the top resources of hot spring in Japan. The results demonstrate as follows. First, most stakeholders are interested in small geothermal power generation basically but are not knowledgeable, and the expert knowledge on geothermal resource entail uncertainty. Second, most stakeholders assume the geothermal resource as sightseeing and management resource rather than power generation use, and acknowledge the value of not only economic but also non-economic. Third, explicit disputes are not observed at present because small geothermal power generation have not been utilized everywhere yet. However, the concerns over the depletion of geothermal resource are so serious that disputes might arise in future. Therefore finally, integrating expert knowledge and local knowledge is needed by sharing risk perception of depletion of geothermal resource and by reframing branding strategy in the local community through joint fact-finding. Based on the above, a comprehensive arena of dialogue on geothermal resource are required to examine sustainable use of the resource.
