Chubu Electric's new president Yasui says, ``First of all, we need to restore trust.'' Appointment of external chairman to prevent fraud is also possible.
Quick Look
- Minoru Yasui, president of Chubu Electric Power, who was appointed on the 1st to replace the previous president who resigned in response to the data fraud scandal at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant, held a press conference.
- The company made preventing recurrence and restoring trust its top priority, and announced its intention to publish the original standard seismic ground motion.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In reviewing the restart of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, Chubu Electric Power had fraudulently manipulated standard seismic ground motion data. In response to this issue, the former president and chairman resigned at the end of September.
Minoru Yasui, president of Chubu Electric Power, who was appointed on the 1st to replace the president who resigned in response to the data fraud scandal at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant (Shizuoka Prefecture), held a press conference on the 8th. ``Chubu Electric is facing unprecedented scrutiny. We will continue to lead the way and accomplish this so that Chubu Electric is recognized as having changed.'' The company said it would utilize an outside perspective as a measure to prevent a recurrence, and was considering appointing someone to the position of chairman.
During the Nuclear Regulation Authority's review of the restart of Units 3 and 4 of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, Chubu Electric had fraudulently manipulated data related to the ``standard ground motion,'' the expected maximum shaking of an earthquake. The president and chairman resigned at the end of September after receiving the report of the investigation committee by an outside lawyer. The report pointed out that there was a "unique rationalization theory" behind the fraud.
Mr. Yasui served as the director of a thermal power plant, and later served as director of the alliance promotion department. Regarding the data fraud, he explained, ``There was no ingrained culture in which people could openly express their objections and concerns.We strongly recognize that this is the responsibility of management.'' ``We will clearly change our awareness and behavior in order to create an environment where psychological safety is ensured,'' he said.
Illegal standard seismic ground motion, original values ``published''
He added, ``The first step is to restore trust. Once we reach a stage where we can understand this to some extent, we will take the step of calculating the true standard seismic ground motion.''
He stated that once the guidelines for calculating seismic motion, which are being discussed by the Atomic Energy Association (ATENA), which is made up of major electric power companies, etc., are completed, calculations will be made again in accordance with those guidelines. He expressed his intention to make the original standard seismic ground motion public, stating, ``Of course, everyone has the right to know.''
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Publication of original standard seismic motion
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- When will the original standard seismic motion be announced?
- Timing of resumption of restart examination
