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Niigata governor wants Japan’s Nuclear Regulator to reassess Tepco, following security lapses

Governor asks nuclear regulator to reassess TEPCO, https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210405_31/ 5 Apr 21, The prefectural governor of Niigata has asked Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, NRA, to reassess the capability of a local nuclear power plant’s operator after a series of security lapses.Governor Hanazumi Hideyo requested on Monday that the regulator re-examine Tokyo Electric Power Company.

His move followed the revelation that multiple sensors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant had been broken for months and alternative measures were insufficient, leaving the facility vulnerable to intruders.

A TEPCO employee also improperly entered the plant’s central control room using another employee’s ID card.

Four years ago, the NRA endorsed the operator’s safety measures and gave the green light to restart two of the plant’s reactors.

In response to the governor’s request, NRA Secretary-General Ogino Toru said the authority will scrutinize the operator’s ability.

The NRA has instructed TEPCO to compile a report on its probe into the security breaches by September.

The authority plans to conduct additional inspections after the report is submitted to see whether the company is technically capable of running the plant.

As a penalty for the security lapse, the NRA is expected to ban the utility from transferring nuclear fuel, which would make it impossible to restart the plant.

April 6, 2021 - Posted by | Japan, safety

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