Hamaoka Nuclear Plant Restart in Jeopardy Amid Data Falsification Scandal at Chubu Electric Power
Chubu Electric Power announced on the 5th that it had submitted inappropriate data concerning the evaluation of seismic motion to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) during the review process for the restart of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, which are currently suspended. The company's president and other executives held an emergency press conference to explain the situation. This inappropriate incident involves suspicions that seismic motion was evaluated using methods that differed from those explained to the NRA. Specifically, it is alleged that, in order to "underestimate" the magnitude of the anticipated seismic shaking, "a wave not closest to the average was intentionally selected as the representative wave." This practice lacks scientific validity and is viewed as an act that undermines the very foundation of safety evaluation. In response to this situation, the Nuclear Regulation Authority has suspended its review of Hamaoka Nuclear Power ...