mai
11
2011 | Measures to a request for suspension of operation at Hamaoka nuclear power station
On May 6, 2011, the Prime Minister of Japan issued a request that Chubu Electric Power suspend operations in all reactors at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station. Chubu Electric Power received the request from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry the same day.
Nuclear power can only be generated and provided if we have the trust of the general public, starting with those living near the power station, and safety must always be the highest priority. Chubu Electric Power has taken this request from the Prime Minister with the utmost seriousness. We understand that the request reflects the growing unease of the public regarding nuclear power, and as a business that owns a nuclear power station, we respond sincerely to the public’s unease and believe that our first priority is to build trust.
The officials of Chubu Electric Power have spent long hours considering our response to the Prime Minister’s request, but following our basic stance that building trust is our first priority, we have decided today that, although it will make our business very challenging, we will suspend operations at the currently operating Reactors No. 4 and 5 (No. 4: boiling water reactor, rated electric output 1,137 MW; No. 5: advanced boiling water reactor, rated electric output 1,380 MW).
Operations will be suspended promptly at Reactors No. 4 and 5 as soon as preparations are complete. In addition, we have decided to postpone for the time being the resumption of operations at Reactor No. 3 (boiling water reactor, rated electric output 1,100 MW), which is not currently running.
Accepting the Prime Minister’s request could have a heavy impact on a large number of parties, including our customers, the community near the power station, and our shareholders. We have confirmed a number of points as listed in Attachment 1 with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in order to protect these parties from excessive hardship or loss.
Going forward, Chubu Electric Power will promptly take a number of measures, including building a seawall, to enhance safety during tsunami, and we will be describing the nature of these countermeasures to the local community and the wider public. Moreover, our aim is the early resumption of operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station in order to provide a stable supply of electric power to the Chubu Region.
In addition, because the suspension of operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station will make it challenging to meet demand, we have established an Electric Power Supply and Demand Task Force as described in Attachment 3 that will be taking various measures to ensure a stable supply of electric power.
Source : Communiqué Chubu Electric
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