NRA approves Ohi safety assessment

June 10, 2013

Nuclear regulators back Ohi plant safety report

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130611_02.html

Japan's nuclear regulators have said they have mostly approved a new safety assessment from the operator of Ohi, the country's only running nuclear plant.

Nuclear Regulation Authority officials on Monday received the findings from Kansai Electric Power Company.

Kansai Electric engineers analyzed three active faults near the plant's premises in Fukui Prefecture and off the coast in the Sea of Japan.

They were told to examine possible effects of an earthquake if the 3 faults moved simultaneously.

The engineers found in such a case the reactor buildings would shake to an intensity of 760 gals.

Regulators found this figure -- essentially a benchmark of quake resistance -- to be acceptable.

Kansai Electric officials originally refused to consider the possibility of the three faults moving simultaneously. But they agreed to carry out the analysis to prepare for stricter guidelines to be introduced in July.

The regulators also approved most of the utility's tsunami calculations. The engineers calculated a triple-fault quake would cause a tsunami of up to 3.68 meters.

The Ohi plant is 9.7 meters above sea level.

Regulation Authority experts will inspect the plant on Saturday to check how disasters could affect its facilities. They'll also check its precautions for nuclear accidents.

The regulators plan to decide this month whether Kansai Electric may continue to operate the Ohi plant.