Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Operation of problematic Sendai NPP should be stopped without delay

Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) on August 21 announced that a plan to achieve full capacity operations of the No.1 reactor at its Sendai nuclear power plant (Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Pref.) in four days will be postponed due to a problem with a recirculation pump in the reactor’s secondary cooling system.

In defiance of public opposition, the plant operator last week resumed operations at the plant after a four-year hiatus.

Nuclear power engineering expert and former Chuo University professor Tateno Jun said, “As the Sendai nuclear power station began operations 35 years ago, it is highly probable that other problems will be discovered. The operator should stop the plant’s operations and determine the causes of the problem.”

Later on the same day at the weekly Friday night protest in front of the prime minister’s office, the Metropolitan Coalition against Nukes which hosts the protest pointed out that in addition to the condenser trouble, several minor but significant eruptions have occurred at an active volcano, Sakurajima, located about 50 km from the plant. The organizer called on participants to push the government and the power company to take the plant back off line again.

A 67-year-old woman from Tokyo’s Nishitokyo City said, “Sakurajima could erupt at any time. Under such a circumstance, who can say that the Sendai NPP is safe? We have to put a stop to the plant operations.”

Past related articles:
> Municipalities near Sendai NPP demand public briefing sessions [July 26, 2015]
> Violent volcanic eruption increasing public anxieties about safety of Sendai NPP [May 30, 2015]
> Volcanologists question the safety of Sendai NPP [September 9, 2014]