Japan's METI raps TEPCO for falsifying reactor data
Date: 03-Oct-02
Country: JAPAN
TEPCO is under fire for falsifying reports on nuclear safety inspections in the 1980s and 1990s, and hiding the existence of cracks in the shrouds of several of its reactors.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will conduct thorough inspections of TEPCO's three nuclear power plants, focusing on whether proper safety checks were made and proper records maintained, a ministry official told a news conference.
TEPCO must also submit a report by the end of March on its moves to improve inspection procedures and ensure no more mistakes are made, METI said.
"The incidents not only cast doubt on TEPCO's attitude to safety, but they have badly shaken the public's trust in nuclear energy itself, which is a pillar (of Japan's) energy supply," the METI official said.
METI Minister Takeo Hiranuma summoned TEPCO President Nobuya Minami to the ministry yesterday to tell him about the action being taken against the Tokyo-based utility.
Hiranuma had already told a news conference this week that the government would not press for criminal charges against TEPCO.
Minami is due to resign on October 14 to take responsibility for the scandal.
TEPCO said it had already closed seven nuclear reactors, and planned to close another reactor later this month for safety checks.
Nuclear power provides a third of resource-poor Japan's electricity.
To make up for a shortfall in power supply due to the closures, the company said it would resume operations of three mothballed oil-fired thermal power plants.
TEPCO's shares ended yesterday up 0.45 percent at 2,210 yen, while the Nikkei stock average fell 2.36 percent.
