Anti-tornado facilities at Takahama plant

August 12, 2014

Anti-tornado facilities at nuclear plant unveiled

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140812_27.html

Aug. 12, 2014 - Updated 10:40 UTC+2

The operator of a nuclear plant in central Japan has unveiled anti-tornado facilities that it says could protect its operation from gusts stronger than any ever recorded in the country.

Kansai Electric Power Company on Tuesday showed media the facilities for the 2 reactors at its Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture.

They are designed to protect seawater pumps that cool the reactors using 4-centimeter-thick steel plates on the sides of the pumps and double metal nets over them to protect against falling objects.

The country's nuclear regulator had pointed out the pumps' vulnerability to tornados.

Officials of the firm say the facilities can withstand gusts of 360 kilometers per hour. They say they're also taking steps to keep power vehicles from being blown away by tornadoes.

The regulator is also urging the operator to strengthen measures against earthquakes and tsunamis.

Kansai Electric was recently found to have miscalculated the maximum height of tsunami waves that could hit the plant. The firm must now heighten an embankment under construction.

The regulator is conducting thorough safety screening of the reactors toward a possible restart. All of Japan's nuclear reactors are offline.