NHK...

Chubu Electric Power Company has agreed to a request from the Prime Minister to suspend operations at two reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear power plant.

The utility decided at a board of directors meeting on Monday afternoon to halt operations within a few days at Reactors Number 4 and 5 at the Hamaoka complex in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Monday's agreement comes in response to a request made by Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday to suspend operations of the active reactors at the complex until new earthquake-resistance work is completed. The Hamaoka plant is located about 200 kilometers west of Tokyo.
With the decision to halt operations at Reactors Number 4 and 5, all five of the plant's reactors will be shut down.
Reactors Number 1 and 2 have been shut down for decommissioning, and Reactor Number 3 is undergoing regular inspections.

After the board meeting, Chubu Electric President Akihisa Mizuno said the utility has yet to find a replacement source of power for the suspended Hamaoka plant.

He said Chubu has canceled plans to supply surplus electricity to the northern part of Japan. Tokyo Electric Power Company is a major power supplier to the area, but TEPCO is also expecting summer power shortages due to the nuclear plant accident.

Mizuno said the suspension of the Hamaoka plant represents a fresh burden for Chubu Electric, and that although the company will do its utmost to make its management more efficient, it will have to ask the government for assistance. He said the utility cannot ask its clients or shareholders to take on an undue burden.

The Hamaoka nuclear power complex is located directly above the projected focus of a magnitude eight class earthquake that experts have long predicted.

Monday, May 09, 2011 20:12 +0900 (JST)