Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant “Procedures for restarting hold for the time being” Regulatory Commission

TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station has revealed that multiple detection equipment to prevent unauthorized intrusion by terrorists and others may have been broken since March last year, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced that it is Unit 7. Of the procedures for restarting the nuclear power plant, we have decided to suspend the procedures such as inspections to be performed before the nuclear fuel is added for the time being.

At the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, where TEPCO is aiming to restart, it was found that since March last year, multiple facilities for detecting intruders such as terrorists have been broken, making it impossible to detect unauthorized intrusions. , The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced on the 16th that it was in a state of allowing unauthorized intrusion for a long period of time, and that it was the most serious level among the four-grade evaluation related to nuclear material protection.

At the meeting of the Regulatory Commission held on the 17th, future procedures were discussed, and for the time being, the procedures such as inspections performed by the Regulatory Commission before putting nuclear fuel into the reactor of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 7 will be suspended for the time being. I decided.

"Illegal entry", "End and announcement work" Actually not finished ", etc.

Regarding the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, it was discovered that TEPCO employees had illegally invaded the central control room in September last year since January, and safety measures for restarting, which was said to have been "finished". It became clear that the construction had not been completed one after another, and TEPCO has changed the process of restarting Unit 7, which was supposed to be put into commercial operation in June, to undecided.

President Kobayakawa of TEPCO attending the Upper House Budget Committee "Extreme of grief"

Tomoaki Kobayakawa, president of TEPCO, said at the House of Councilors Budget Committee on the 17th, "We take it very seriously. We take it very seriously. We apologize for causing great concern to you. "

After that, "I would like to confirm the circumstances leading up to this decision, summarize opinions as soon as possible and respond to the Regulatory Commission. This case while all employees have sincerely reflected on the nuclear accident and have been working on reforms. It is the height of grief that has happened, and I believe it is my responsibility to thoroughly investigate the cause and carry out drastic reforms. "

Regulatory Commission Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa "Impact on the timing of restart"

In addition, Toyoshi Fuketa, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, mentioned that TEPCO would need to undergo additional inspections. The process of proceedings towards this will take a year or more, "he said, reiterating the prospect that the response to this issue will affect the timing of the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. It was.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kajiyama "Positioning of nuclear power will be examined once again"

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kajiyama also reiterated that it was a serious situation, and said, "Given stable and inexpensive power supply and response to climate change issues, nuclear power is based on the premise of ensuring safety. I think it is necessary to utilize it. In reviewing the basic energy plan, it is necessary to once again consider the future position of nuclear power based on this case. " We also heard opinions from members of the Council of the Ministry of Industry and clarified their intention to proceed with discussions on future energy policies.