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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and TEPCO announced on the 16th that there were a total of 16 intruder detection device failures for counter-terrorism measures at the TEPCO Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (Niigata Prefecture) from March 2020 to February 2009. On 10th of On the other hand, the measures taken by TEPCO were insufficient and there was a risk that the intrusion could not be detected for more than 30 days. It was also found that it took a long time to restore the equipment. TEPCO’s careless stance has been revealed. (Kenta Onozawa, Noriyuki Fukuoka)
Niigata Prefecture TEPCO Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant
The Regulatory Commission held an extraordinary meeting on the same day and, for the first time since its creation in 2012, considered this issue to be the “most serious level” in terms of safety. It was decided to ask TEPCO to review it as an organization.
TEPCO plans to improve management by restarting Kashiwazaki Kariwa to cover the costs of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant where the accident occurred. However, this year security problems have been discovered one after another.
◆ Chairperson of rulemaking “1 year or more for additional inspection”
Toyoshi Fuketa, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, criticizes the inadequate counter-terrorism measures at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant as “an extremely serious condition”.
President Toyoshi Fuketa, who held a press conference after the extraordinary meeting, said the additional inspection would take more than a year and stated that “there is no next step towards driving” until the inspection is complete. Kashiwazaki Kariwa’s early reboot became impossible.
TEPCO informed the Regulatory Commission on January 27 that it had accidentally damaged an intrusion detection device. In response to this, the Regulatory Commission was proceeding with the inspections.
According to the Regulatory Commission, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa has found multiple flaws in intrusion detection devices since January 2018, but did not immediately recover. Furthermore, since March 2008, security personnel have not improved on alternative measures to replace the failed device, knowing that it is ineffective. All equipment has been restored and no intrusion has been confirmed.
Regarding ineffective alternatives, Chairman Fuketa said: “Is it fraudulent, is it known and did not do it intentionally, or is it a lack of knowledge? Is it a matter of technical skill or is it licking? That is exactly what the committee wants to know. I think it will take some time for future inspections, but I will confirm it. “
At the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in September last year, an employee lost his identification card, took out his colleague’s card without permission, and illegally entered the central control room, which is the heart of the nuclear power plant. In February, TEPCO just dumped a total of 13 people, even paying close attention to President Tomoaki Kobayakawa. Even with this problem, strict punishment from the president and director of Kashiwazaki Kariwa is unavoidable.
◆ Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry “It is not at the stage where it can be restarted”
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshi Kajiyama, told a press conference on the night of the 16: “Ensuring the protection of nuclear material is the foundation of nuclear operators. It is very regrettable that a serious incident has occurred.” When asked if TEPCO was qualified to operate the nuclear power plant, it said: “The situation is that the deterioration of the organizational management function related to ensuring safety is being seriously questioned. Naturally, I think it is not at the stage in the which can be restarted as is. “.. (Sota Senoo)
