Home / Environment / Japan Halts Nuclear Plant Restart Over Data Fraud
Japan Halts Nuclear Plant Restart Over Data Fraud
7 Jan
Summary
- Nuclear regulator halted screening for Hamaoka plant restart.
- Chubu Electric mishandled seismic data for regulatory review.
- The watchdog chairman called the act 'misconduct' and 'fabrication'.

Japan's nuclear watchdog has suspended the review necessary to restart Chubu Electric Power's sole nuclear plant. The decision came after Chubu Electric reported improper handling of seismic data submitted for the regulatory review process.
The chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority described the issue as a "fabrication of critical inspection data," deeming it serious misconduct. Consequently, the review for resuming operations at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station has been halted, impacting Chubu Electric's efforts to bring the plant back online.
This development affects two reactors at the Hamaoka plant, which have been inactive since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The company's shares experienced a sharp decline of nearly 10% on the previous day, marking the largest drop in over 13 years.




