Japan Press Weekly

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2011 August 17 - 23 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Utility executives give donations to Hokkaido governor

Executives of Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (HEPCO) have been donating money to Hokkaido Governor Takahashi Harumi, who recently approved the restart of a nuclear reactor at the utility’s Tomari nuclear power plant.

This was revealed by Japanese Communist Party Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly Member Mashita Noriko based on political funds reports issued by the governor’s fund management organization.

According to the JCP’s findings, in 2006, 13 HEPCO executives, including former chair Minamiyama Hideo, gave a total of 390,000 yen in donations to the organization.

The amount of donations varies in accordance with the post. In 2006, Minamiyama gave 100,000 yen, the chairman 50,000 yen, the president and one of two vice presidents 30,000 yen each, another vice president and eight managing directors 20,000 yen each.

In 2007, Minamiyama and 14 HEPCO executives donated 420,000 yen in total.

Former business leader Minamiyama now serves as head of the fund management body of Governor Takahashi.

Mashita on August 1 urged the governor to not approve the resumption of commercial operations of the Tomari NPP and stop receiving donations from HEPCO executives.

Governor Takahashi on August 17 expressed her approval to restart a Tomari NPP No.3 reactor, which had undergone regular inspection. This is the first nuclear reactor undergoing scheduled maintenance inspections to resume commercial operations since the Fukushima accident in March.