Press Release
Extension of Time for Completing Tsunami Countermeasures at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station
July 30, 2012
Chubu Electric Power Co.,Inc.
Chubu Electric Power has made progress toward its December 2012 target for completing certain tsunami countermeasures at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station as established in July 2011 (specifically, "Flooding prevention measures 1," "Flooding prevention measures 2" and "Enhancement of emergency measures" However, with some measures for which revisions were announced in March 2012 (namely, power supply equipment measures under "Enhancement of emergency measures"), the amount of work has increased significantly, leading to problems such as too much work scheduled at one time. This is to announce that an extension of about a year has become necessary.
In light of knowledge learned from incidents such as the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accidents, Chubu Electric Power decided to strengthen power supply equipment measures under "Enhancement of emergency measures" to further enhance safety.
Specifically, to more reliably secure the cooling function of reactors and spent fuel pools in emergencies, we will be working to ensure multiple cooling equipment that receives electric power from gas turbine generators located on high ground (emergency AC power supply equipment). To ensure enough electrical capacity to operate these pieces of cooling equipment, we have increased the number of gas turbine generators, cables, power panels, etc.
Recently, while studying detailed plans for site work as we prepared to place orders for revised measures, we found that the amount of work had increased significantly, leading to problems such as too much work scheduled at one time, so an extension of about a year was necessary.
The overall schedule for the tsunami countermeasures work is as shown in the attachment.
"Flooding prevention measures 1" (such as the sea wall) and the "Increase reliability of waterproof doors in outer walls of buildings" part of "Flooding prevention measures 2" continue to progress according to the original schedule.
The Cabinet Office's "Nankai Trough Massive Earthquake Model Investigative Commission" released its first report this March on estimates of seismic intensity distribution, tsunami heights, etc. as caused by an anticipated massive earthquake along the Nankai Trough, and is to release results of additional study in late August. Chubu Electric Power will confirm the content of the data on these estimates when it is received. We will study the seismic motion and tsunami to be anticipated at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station and will proceed to evaluate the impact on the station, with a target of completing this by December.
We are also checking and studying the content of "Technical Knowledge about the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accidents (Summary)" announced in March 2012 by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and other Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident study reports announced heretofore.
We will study the need for further revisions and additions to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station earthquake and tsunami safety measures, etc. in light of these evaluations and studies.
Chubu Electric Power will make every effort to give the local community and society in general a sense of security by further enhancing safety at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station and carefully explaining our measures.
(Note) This time extension will have minimal impact on business results this term.