Japan Press Weekly

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2011 February 23 - March 1 [ENVIRONMENT]

Clarify the cause of nuclear plant accidents: JCP in Tokai Village

The Japanese Communist Party Ibaraki Prefectural Committee on February 22 made representations to two nuclear-related facilities in Tokai Village, demanding that they thoroughly investigate the cause of accidents that occurred early this month and that they take tighter safety control measures.

The two facilities in question are a factory of Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co., Ltd. and a laboratory of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

In the nuclear fuel processing factory on February 8, four male employees were exposed to radiation due to a leakage of uranium dioxide powder. In the JAEA lab on February 3, a fire broke out at a radiation controlled area.

JCP members of the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly and the Tokai Village Assembly made inquiries into the incidents. Officials of both entities said, “We apologize for causing anxiety among the public,” and expressed their intention to strengthen safety checks.