Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2011 November 2 - 8 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Kyuden high-handedly restarts NPP operations

Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) on November 1 began preparing for the resumption of operations of the No. 4 reactor at its Genkai Nuclear Power Plant after a five month-suspension caused by an emergency shutdown due to errors in operation procedures.

Since the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred in March, this will be the first nuclear reactor to come back on line.

Kyuden decided to restart the off-line reactor on the grounds that the company on October 31 received favorable evaluations from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency regarding measures to correct the errors the company reported to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Commenting on the Kyuden’s decision, NISA deputy director-general for nuclear accident measures Moriyama Yoshinori said, “The NPP operator identified the cause for the shutdown and has already taken appropriate measures. So, there is no safety problem.”

Both the governor of Saga Prefecture and the Genkai Town mayor who host the Genkai NPP expressed their intention to give their approval to the resumption of the reactor.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Communist Party Saga Prefectural Committee submitted to the utility a written protest against the restart. It said that it is unacceptable for the utility to restart reactor operations without showing signs of remorse for its attempted manipulation of local opinions by ignoring people’s anxiety and opposition.