Japan Press Weekly

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2024 November 20 - 26 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP lawmakers: Restart of Shimane NPP lacks local residents’ consent

Local government heads, assemblymembers, and residents within a 30-kilometer radius of the Chugoku Electric Power Company Shimane Nuclear Power Plant (Matsue City, Shimane Pref.) on November 20 held a meeting to receive an explanation from the power company (Chuden) regarding the restart of operations of the currently-offline No. 2 reactor at the Shimane NPP. Japanese Communist Party lawmakers attending the meeting voiced their concerns.

JCP member of the Shimane prefectural assembly Omura Toshinari criticized the safety management system of the utility which has repeatedly experienced fires and equipment malfunctions at the plant. He stressed that the best safety measure is to shut down the plant.

Another JCP prefectural assemblyperson, Oguni Yosuke said, “The present evacuation plan is neither feasible nor effective. No consensus has been formed among local residents on the necessity for the reactivation.”

Chuden officials said in response, “We are intending to strengthen our safety management system, and hoped to regain the trust of local residents.”

The Shimane NPP is the only N-plant in Japan located in the prefectural capital. About 450,000 people live within a 30-kilometer radius of the plant in six cities in Shimane and Tottori prefectures. The No.2 reactor has been suspended since January 2012. Reportedly, the company plans to put the reactor back online by the end of December.

Past related article:
> JCP calls for thorough investigation of cause of fire at Shimane NPP [May 10, 2024]