Rebuilding Trust in Nuclear Power
Public trust in Japan's electric power industry has been weakened
due to the inappropriate handling of voluntary inspection records
at nuclear power stations. Activities aimed at rebuilding trust
are vital for the successful promotion of nuclear power. This
is because the electric industry is community-based and customer
confidence is our most valuable managerial resource.
Scene of Shroud Repair Work
When inappropriate handling of voluntary inspection records conducted
by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) came to light last
August, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced that
inspected nuclear power plants did not present serious safety
concerns. Having listened to the concerns of local areas, TEPCO
decided to shut down and inspect all plants suspected of having
cracks in the shrouds of reactor pressure vessels or where the
possibility of such cracks existed. METI's subcommittee concluded
that the cracked shrouds at TEPCO and other electric companies
posed no serious safety threat and did not need to be repaired
immediately. Inspection of the cracks at regular intervals was,
however, recommended. Accordingly, TEPCO announced a policy of
repairing all cracks in shrouds except very small ones that would
clearly have no adverse effect on safe operations.
Moreover, it was revealed in October 2002 that leak tests on
the reactor containment vessel at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
Station Unit-1 in 1991 and 1992 had been falsified. After announcing
that an external investigation team had confirmed that no other
falsifications existed, TEPCO suspended operations of all nuclear
power plants as instructed by NISA. During the shutdown, all required
inspections are being carried out and plant operations are being
restarted.
As the summertime peak in electricity demand approaches, TEPCO
has been working to reduce demand by encouraging customers to
conserve electricity. TEPCO has also increased supplies from other
utilities. Nonetheless, in order to sustain a stable power supply,
operation of 8 to 10 of the company's 17 nuclear power plants
will be necessary. We, the electric power industry, are determined
to work toward rebuilding confidence and securing a stable power
supply.
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