Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2016 March 2 - 8 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Faults under Shika NPP most likely active: NRA expert team

A team of experts commissioned by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) compiled a draft report on March 3 which points to a strong possibility that active faults are lying under the Shika Nuclear Power Plant in Ishikawa Prefecture.

In August 2014, in a bid to restart the No.2 reactor at the Shika NPP, the plant operator Hokuriku Electric Power Company applied to the NRA for the screening of the reactor. The watchdog agency has since investigated the faults beneath the plant site with the help of specialists.

A total of eight faults are running under the premises. The draft report states, “It is reasonable to judge the fault underneath the No.1 reactor building to be active”. On top of this, the draft points out the possibility that there are two other active faults below the buried pipes that take in seawater to cool the Nos.1 and 2 reactors. The power company has insisted that these faults are inactive.

The current nuclear safety standards, which were set by the NRA after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, prohibit utilities from building nuclear power facilities on faults which are likely to move in the future. If the regulatory agency finally approves the assessment report, the No.1 reactor will be decommissioned.

Kodama Kazuya, leader of a local civic group opposing nuclear power generation, said, “The power company should accept the assessment results and shut down the power station. It is best for the utility to use its financial and technological capabilities to develop and promote renewable energy. I’ll work to step up our campaign calling for the decommissioning of the reactors.”

Past related article:
> Shika nuclear power plant operator applies for restart of its reactor [August 13, 2014]