rki.news

Tokyo, January 7 — Japan’s nuclear regulator has condemned the operator of a nuclear power plant in central Japan for allegedly falsifying earthquake data, calling the matter extremely grave and serious.

Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) chief Shinsuke Yamanaka described the incident as a clear case of misconduct, involving fabricated inspection data directly related to the plant’s safety standards. The affected reactors are Nos. 3 and 4 at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, operated by Chubu Electric Power Co., which is seeking regulatory approval to restart the units.

As a result, the NRA announced it will suspend inspections at the Hamaoka facility pending further investigation. At its next regular meeting on January 14, the authority will decide whether to request a report from Chubu Electric or conduct an on-site probe through its secretariat.

Chubu Electric acknowledged that its employees may have intentionally selected data from potential earthquake scenarios during quake-resistance tests, potentially influencing the regulatory screening process for reactor restart.

The NRA’s warning highlights the critical importance of transparency and safety compliance in nuclear operations, reinforcing Japan’s commitment to rigorous oversight in the wake of natural disaster risks.