Chubu Electric president apologizes to mayor over Hamaoka nuclear data fraud

Chubu Electric Power President Kingo Hayashi apologized on January 15 to Masaru Shimomura, mayor of Omaezaki in Shizuoka Prefecture, over the company's fraud involving earthquake risk data for the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. This marks the first time the president has offered such an apology to the host municipality since the scandal emerged. Hayashi stated, "I take the case very seriously and apologize deeply."

On January 15, Chubu Electric Power President Kingo Hayashi and other executives met with Masaru Shimomura, mayor of Omaezaki, at the city's government office to apologize for the fraud concerning earthquake risk data submitted for the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. Hayashi told the mayor, "I take the case very seriously and apologize deeply."

The scandal involves the utility altering data provided to Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), which has implications for the plant's restart plans amid ongoing seismic concerns in the region. Omaezaki serves as the host municipality for the Hamaoka facility, voicing local safety worries.

This is the first direct apology from the president to the host community since the issue surfaced, highlighting calls for improved corporate governance in the nuclear sector. Key themes include nuclear energy, utilities, earthquakes, and restarts.

Articoli correlati

Akira Ogawa, scandal-tainted former Maebashi mayor, celebrates reelection victory at podium amid supporters and election banners.
Immagine generata dall'IA

Scandal-tainted former Maebashi mayor Akira Ogawa reelected

Riportato dall'IA Immagine generata dall'IA

Former Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa, 43, has been reelected after resigning over controversial hotel visits with a married municipal official. She defeated four rivals in the vote for the Gunma Prefecture capital, with turnout rising from the previous election. Ogawa apologized during the campaign while pledging to transform the city.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has launched an on-site inspection at Chubu Electric Power's headquarters in Nagoya concerning fraudulent earthquake risk data linked to the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. The probe seeks to fully uncover the circumstances and motives behind the misconduct, which may have underestimated seismic ground motions at the facility. Depending on the findings, the authority could impose severe actions, such as disapproving reactor restarts or revoking the plant's installation permit.

Riportato dall'IA

Japan's nuclear regulator has halted the screening process required to restart Chubu Electric Power's Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station due to inappropriate handling of seismic data. The utility admitted to using a method different from what it explained to regulators for selecting seismic waves. The move stalls efforts to resume operations at the plant, which has been idled since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, Japan issued its first-ever megaquake advisory for 182 municipalities from Hokkaido to Chiba. The advisory, lasting one week, urges residents to prepare for immediate evacuation. While some elderly care facilities report readiness, others express uncertainty in responding.

Riportato dall'IA

Two years after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck on January 1, 2024, a memorial ceremony in Ishikawa Prefecture on January 2, 2026, honored victims of the quake and the heavy rains that followed in September 2024. Attendees observed a moment of silence at 4:10 p.m., the exact time of the earthquake. Amid calls for sustainable reconstruction, population decline in affected areas remains a pressing challenge.

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter Princess Aiko will visit Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures in Tohoku to mark 15 years since the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The Imperial Household Agency announced the trip on February 26, 2026, with visits to Iwate and Miyagi on March 25-26 and Fukushima on April 6-7 to inspect reconstruction progress and meet affected residents. This will be Princess Aiko's first visit to the three prefectures.

Riportato dall'IA

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced that its No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in Niigata Prefecture has begun transmitting electricity to the Tokyo metropolitan area for the first time in 14 years. The company conducted a grid connection test early Monday morning and started full-scale transmission in the evening. Commercial operations are scheduled for March 18.

 

 

 

Questo sito web utilizza i cookie

Utilizziamo i cookie per l'analisi per migliorare il nostro sito. Leggi la nostra politica sulla privacy per ulteriori informazioni.
Rifiuta