Key Point of President's Regular Press Conference

May 2014 Regular Press Conference : President Mizuno's Message

May 27, 2014
Chubu Electric Power Co.,Inc.

Today I will be discussing the following three matters:

Strengthening the initial response system of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station
Holding Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center presentation workshops
Starting commercial operation at Tokuyama Hydroelectric Power Station Unit 2 and beginning general operations at the Joetsu Thermal Power Station

Strengthening the initial response system of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station

First, I would like to talk about the Strengthening the initial response system of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station.
In light of the lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, we at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station place a great deal of importance on the initial field response for accident recovery, and have decided to make improvements in the system.
Specifically, employees experienced in drills will be stationed at the power station 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and we have decided to set up an “Emergency Response Force” to specialize in initial response following accidents.
We will continue with the installation preparations along with the Reactor No. 4 safety improvement measures currently being implemented, and will begin preparing for the start-up from July this year.
Although Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station employees are currently undergoing initial field response training following an accident along with their normal duties, in order to further strengthen response capabilities, an organization specializing in initial response will be set up.
Employees assigned to this organization will undergo drills and acquisition of knowledge that are necessary for initial response activities.
Going into further detail about the “Emergency Response Force,” should an accident occur during night hours or on holidays, the team will perform main initial response functions under the direct instruction of the shift supervisor until the emergency response headquarters of the power station can take over.
In addition to postulated response actions such as “ensuring access routes with heavy machinery” and “ensuring power with power supply cars,” members of the “Emergency Response Force” will endeavor in their training and drills postulating accidents during normal times in order to flexibly respond to any situation.
Also, regular testing and inspections will be performed during routine work for serious accident response equipment such as portable pumps and power supply cars deployed on high ground so that the equipment is ready for use at all times.
In the abovementioned manner, we will strive to strengthen disaster prevention capabilities of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station with employees experienced in drills stationed at the power station 24 hours a day 365 days a year to quickly and accurately carry out necessary initial response actions.

Holding Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center presentation workshops

Next, we would like to talk about presentation workshops to be held at our Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center.
As you are already familiar, Chubu Electric Power established the Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center on the power station grounds in July 2012, with the aim of further improving safety of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station. There, we carry out our own research and also collaborate with universities and research centers to make use of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station field for conducting research by public call.
In order to explain the research results and progress made at the Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center to local residents, we have decided to hold a presentation workshop.
At this presentation workshop, we plan to announce the results and progress of 13 of the researches by public call related to nuclear power started in 2013, as well as research related to upgrading the earthquake disaster prevention system taking into account the Great East Japan Earthquake support and research focused on early tsunami detection already being implemented by the Nuclear Power Safety Technology Research Center.
We at Chubu Electric Power will continue our research on nuclear safety and will make our utmost efforts to train personnel responsible for the future of nuclear power, so as to lead to peace of mind of local communities and the rest of our society.

Starting commercial operation at Tokuyama Hydroelectric Power Station Unit 2 and beginning general operations at the Joetsu Thermal Power Station

Lastly, I would like to talk about the commercial operation of the power station.
On the 15th of this month, we began commercial operation at Tokuyama Hydroelectric Power Station Unit 2 and Joetsu Thermal Power Station Unit 2-2.
Commercial operation was able to start safely for both stations due to the understanding and cooperation of local communities and related parties.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest appreciation.
The Tokuyama Hydroelectric Power Station is equipped with two power generators. Unit 2, which started commercial operation this time around, has an output of 22,400kW.
This is a high operation power source for operation at all times, using water release necessary for maintaining the rivers from the Tokuyama Dam.
On the other hand, construction is continuing for Unit 1 (output 131,000kW) with commercial operation aimed at starting in June, 2015.
Next is the state of the art Joetsu Thermal Power Station, a gas fired power station with a total output of approximately 2.3 million kW.
With the operation starting for Unit 2-2, all four units have begun commercial operation.
The hot summer will be upon us very soon this year. Through the inspection and maintenance of these power stations and distribution facilities, we at Chubu Electric Power would like to be fully prepared for the season to come.
That concludes my remarks for today.

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