Shizuoka, Sept. 15 (Jiji Press)–Chubu Electric Power Co. President Kingo Hayashi on Tuesday apologized to local government leaders over the company’s earthquake risk data fraud involving the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. Chubu Electric submitted to the Nuclear Regulation Authority cherry-picked quake vibration data using a method different from what had been reported to the NRA for regulatory screening needed to restart the plant’s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors. Visiting the Omaezaki municipal government, Hayashi explained findings in a report on the fraud drawn up by an investigative committee and apologized. He later met with Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki at the prefectural office in the prefecture’s namesake capital. “We’ve ended up betraying the trust of all of you in us,” Hayashi said in a meeting with the governor, expressing his sincere apologies. Hayashi said Chubu Electric will set up Shizuoka regional headquarters in October to deal with local affairs. Suzuki replied, “It’s very regrettable that the (company’s) credibility has been significantly lowered.” “It all comes down to providing thorough explanations while being attentive to the needs of the local communities,” Suzuki said. The report, released Monday, showed that the misconduct was carried out over the long term and cited the corporate culture, which justified inappropriate practices, as an underlying cause. To take responsibility for the scandal, Hayashi and Chairman Satoru Katsuno will step down Sept. 30. Chubu Electric decided to withdraw its applications for the restart of the two reactors. Hayashi, however, told a press conference Monday that the company “has not given up” on restarting the reactors. At a news conference following a cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday industry minister Ryosei Akazawa expressed a view that it would be inappropriate to discuss whether to make reapplications, stressing the importance of ensuring plant safety and taking full measures to prevent a recurrence of data manipulation. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
