Japan Press Weekly

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2012 December 19 - 25 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

NRA says faults under Higashidori NPP is likely active

An expert team of the Nuclear Regulation Authority held a meeting on December 20 and unanimously concluded that the faults under the Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant (Aomori Prefecture) are likely active.

The two potentially active faults are only a few hundred meters away from the reactor building.

Earlier this month, a fault running right under the Tsuruga NPP was also found to be likely active. The NRA is also conducting this kind of investigation at the Oi NPP, the only plant currently in operation in Japan, and many participating experts suggest the existence of a possible active fault at that site as well.

These results clearly show how untrustworthy the safety review of nuclear facilities was in the past.

Among 17 NPPs in Japan, the Higashidori is the most newly-built and the Tsuruga is the oldest. Now that possible active faults were found under both of the plants, it raises grave doubts about the safety reviews previously conducted at other sites.

The NRA plans to examine the Shika NPP, the fast breeder nuclear reactor “Monju” and the Mihama NPP sites for active faults. All the other nuclear facilities in Japan should be examined as well.

Related past articles

> Possible active fault under Oi NPP requires more research: NRA [November 8, 2012]

> Fault under Tsuruga nuclear plant is likely active [December 11, 2012]