The president and chairperson of Chubu Electric Power Co., Japan's third-largest utility, are resigning to take responsibility for the company's yearslong manipulation of earthquake safety data for two nuclear reactors. The operator will also withdraw its applications to restart these reactors.
President Kingo Hayashi announced Monday that an outside investigative panel determined the utility had provided falsified seismic data for its Hamaoka No. 3 and No. 4 reactors to meet safety requirements. Chubu Electric applied for safety screening to resume operations at these reactors in 2014 and 2015. However, the Nuclear Regulation Authority suspended the screening in December after a whistleblower prompted an internal investigation.
Hayashi and chairperson Satoru Katsuno were not directly implicated in the data manipulation. However, the investigation suggested that the company's push to restart the reactors, with management reportedly reprimanding the team working on the permit due to delays, may have pressured employees into wrongdoing.
"We had serious problems with our corporate culture and governance," Hayashi stated. "Regaining public trust is our top priority." Hayashi and Katsuno are scheduled to step down on September 30, with director Minoru Yasui set to become president on October 1.
The Hamaoka plant, located about 125 miles west of Tokyo, is situated in a coastal area identified as a high-risk zone for major earthquakes. Two other reactors at the plant are currently being decommissioned, and a fifth remains idle.
Japan has been working to restart some of its nuclear reactors following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, where a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami led to meltdowns at three reactors. The government, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has accelerated restarts amid rising energy costs and pressure to reduce carbon emissions. Despite public concerns lingering from the Fukushima meltdowns, acceptance of nuclear energy has gradually increased, partly due to high fuel costs exacerbated by global conflicts.
Hayashi indicated that nuclear power remains a crucial energy source for the company. Chubu Electric intends to reapply for the restart of the Hamaoka No. 3 and No. 4 reactors after implementing corrective measures, restructuring its operations, and initiating a fresh start. As of the Nuclear Regulation Authority's latest data, 11 of Japan's 54 commercial reactors are currently operational, with over 20 more undergoing decommissioning.