With the de facto order banning the operation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture lifted, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has announced plans for the future, including the participation of outside experts in the operation of the power plant, in order to restore trust. We summarized the policy and reported it to Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito on the 15th.
Three years ago, a series of serious problems with anti-terrorism measures were discovered at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority issued an order to TEPCO effectively prohibiting its operation.
Following the regulatory commission's lifting of the order last December, TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa met with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito on the 15th and reported on future policies to restore trust.
The policy states that efforts will be made to strengthen the protection of nuclear materials based on evaluations and advice from experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and that external experts, including those from overseas, will be invited to participate in the operation of power plants. I am planning to get it.
Furthermore, the government will consider additional evacuation support measures in the event that a natural disaster and a nuclear power plant accident occur at the same time.
In response, Minister Saito said, ``It takes 10 years to gain trust, but it only takes a moment to lose it.'' I would like all parties involved to thoroughly adhere to these words.''
After examining TEPCO's report, Minister Saito will meet with Governor Hanazumi of Niigata Prefecture as early as next week and make arrangements to seek the consent of local governments necessary to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. Masu.
TEPCO President Kobayakawa: “We want to build trust one by one.”
After meeting with Minister Saito, TEPCO President Kobayakawa told reporters, ``In a typical company, we would like an outside expert to oversee the operation of the power plant in a position similar to that of an outside director.'' We will announce the details of the organization as soon as they are decided."
Regarding the prospect of restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, he said, ``Safety and local understanding are important, and we have been moving forward with our activities.We will steadily move forward step by step with the content we reported to Minister Saito today.'' "I'm thinking about it. I'm not at the stage where I can say anything yet, but I want to build trust one by one."