Prime Minister Naoto Kan said May 6 that the government has asked Chubu Electric Power Co. to halt all reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture until the planned breakwater is built and medium- and long-term safety precautions are implemented.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said May 6 that the government has asked Chubu Electric Power Co. to halt all reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture until the planned breakwater is built and medium- and long-term safety precautions are implemented.
The government's request means that the No. 4 and No. 5 reactors at Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki should be shut down immediately. The No. 3 reactor has been offline due to regular inspections, and the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors are being decommissioned.
Kan cited in a news conference a study of the education ministry's panel that put the chances of a magnitude-8.0 or stronger earthquake striking the Tokai region within 30 years at 87 percent.
"I made the decision after considering the immense impact to the entire country if a serious accident occurred at the Hamaoka nuclear plant," Kan said.
Should a serious accident unfold at the Hamaoka nuclear plant, the implications would be far-reaching as the Tokaido Shinkansen Line and the Tomei Expressway--two key transportation arteries in Honshu run within 20 kilometers of the plant.
Asked about the government's response if the utility refuses to comply, Kan said, "We will talk to the company to have them understand our intent fully."
Speaking of the utility's reaction, Banri Kaieda, industry minister, said, "The president (of Chubu Electric) said that he wants to hold his final answer."
The utility's spokesperson said that the government's request would have major implications on the region it services because of the energy conservation measures that may have to be put in place. Chubu Electric services Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Nagano and Mie prefectures.
The utility plans in two to three years to build a breakwater at least 15 meters high, behind the existing dune that is about 10 meters high to protect the reactor building.
The Hamaoka plant sits on an active fault in an area where the epicenter of the expected Tokai quake is located.
There are five reactors at the plant, which is Chubu Electric's only nuclear facility.
The No. 1 and No. 2 reactors, built in the late 1970s, are in the process of being decommissioned.
The No. 3 reactor has been shut down for regular inspections, while the No. 4 and No. 5 reactors are currently in service.
The government's announcement came after Chubu Electric said April 28 that it plans to restart the No. 3 reactor, which has been operated since 1987, in July to ensure a stable power supply in summer.
Kan said that the government will take the utmost measures to prevent disruptions in the power supply in the region.
He acknowledged, however, that a prime minister is not authorized to order the shutdown of nuclear reactors.