September 8, 2016
Kagoshima Governor Mitazono Satoshi on September 7 visited the Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) head office in Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture and again demanded an immediate shutdown of Nos 1 and 2 reactors at the Sendai nuclear power plant.
This action took place in the wake of the Kyuden refusal to the governor’s first request two days ago.
The governor explained that when he visited the surrounding areas of the nuclear power station, residents voiced concerns that if a nuclear accident occurs, it will be difficult for them to find safe evacuation routes and secure a sufficient number of vehicles for evacuation. Mitazono said to Kyuden President Uriu Michiaki, “As the governor, I’m tasked to protect residents’ safety. I want Kyuden to make a decision as soon as possible to stop operations and conduct safety checks on the two reactors.”
At a press conference after the meeting with the Kyuden president, Mitazono said, “I made a demand on behalf of residents questioning the safety of the Sendai NPP. Residents’ safety should come first.”
Meanwhile, asked about the talks with Mitazono, Uriu stopped short of giving any answer to the press corps regarding his intended response to the governor’s request. He just said, “The company will carry out thorough safety checkups during the scheduled inspections of the two units.”
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The Kyuden president visited the Kagoshima prefectural office building on September 9 and told Governor Mitazono that his company cannot accept the governor’s second request for the immediate suspension of the operations of the two reactors at the Sendai NPP.
After the meeting, Mitazono told reporters that he will continue to make similar requests to the power company through various channels. “By consent of the prefectural assembly, I’m going to set up a committee to discuss the issue of the Sendai nuclear power plant. I’ll continue to work to create a society free of nuclear power generation,” he said.
Past related articles:
> Kyuden rejects governor’s request for suspension of Sendai NPP operations [September 6, 2016]
> Kagoshima governor demands suspension of Sendai NPP [August 27, 2016]
This action took place in the wake of the Kyuden refusal to the governor’s first request two days ago.
The governor explained that when he visited the surrounding areas of the nuclear power station, residents voiced concerns that if a nuclear accident occurs, it will be difficult for them to find safe evacuation routes and secure a sufficient number of vehicles for evacuation. Mitazono said to Kyuden President Uriu Michiaki, “As the governor, I’m tasked to protect residents’ safety. I want Kyuden to make a decision as soon as possible to stop operations and conduct safety checks on the two reactors.”
At a press conference after the meeting with the Kyuden president, Mitazono said, “I made a demand on behalf of residents questioning the safety of the Sendai NPP. Residents’ safety should come first.”
Meanwhile, asked about the talks with Mitazono, Uriu stopped short of giving any answer to the press corps regarding his intended response to the governor’s request. He just said, “The company will carry out thorough safety checkups during the scheduled inspections of the two units.”
*****
The Kyuden president visited the Kagoshima prefectural office building on September 9 and told Governor Mitazono that his company cannot accept the governor’s second request for the immediate suspension of the operations of the two reactors at the Sendai NPP.
After the meeting, Mitazono told reporters that he will continue to make similar requests to the power company through various channels. “By consent of the prefectural assembly, I’m going to set up a committee to discuss the issue of the Sendai nuclear power plant. I’ll continue to work to create a society free of nuclear power generation,” he said.
Past related articles:
> Kyuden rejects governor’s request for suspension of Sendai NPP operations [September 6, 2016]
> Kagoshima governor demands suspension of Sendai NPP [August 27, 2016]
