Chubu Electric HQ inspection starts over N-plant data fraud

During the inspection of the Chubu Electric headquarters in Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, west of Shizuoka, the nuclear regulator will review documents and other records related to the compilation of fraudulent data used in reactor screenings.

The NRA will also interview employees involved in the wrongdoing.

The probe is aimed at fully uncovering the circumstances surrounding and motives behind the misconduct.

Based on the findings from the inspection, expected to take at least several months, the NRA will consider action against Chubu Electric.

At its regular meeting January 14, the NRA discussed possible punishments, such as disapproving a reactor restart at the Hamaoka power station and revoking the installation permit for the plant.

"(The data fraud) is a serious case requiring a study on severe punishment," NRA chief Shinsuke Yamanaka said at a press conference that day.

Since 2018 or before, Chubu Electric had selected a representative seismic wave using methods different from those presented during the NRA's screenings, according to the company.

Also, the company started around 2018 to deliberately choose seismic waves other than average values as the representative wave.

Chubu Electric therefore may have underestimated the seismic ground motions that the plant could experience.

The NRA learned of the issue through an external tip in February last year.

Chubu Electric admitted the misconduct in December and announced it on January 5.

Under the nuclear reactor regulation law, the NRA has instructed the company to submit a report on the facts about the irregularities.

It also decided to halt its Hamaoka reactor screenings for possible reactivation.