Kan calls for halt of Hamaoka nuclear reactors

Prime Minister Naoto Kan says he has asked a utility company in central Japan to halt operations of all active reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant, due to the risk of earthquakes.

Kan announced the decision on Friday, citing the need to better secure the plant against earthquakes and tsunami in the wake of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The prime minister says he has asked the plant operator, Chubu Electric Power Company, to halt reactors No.4 and No.5, and not to restart reactor No.3, which is now offline for regular inspections.

The Hamaoka plant in Shizuoka Prefecture has 5 reactors. Reactors No.1 and 2 are permanently shut down for decommissioning.

The reactor complex sits directly above the projected focus of a magnitude-8 class earthquake that experts have long warned of.

The plant's safety risks have been repeatedly pointed out by lawmakers during Diet debates.

Friday, May 06, 2011 19:47 +0900 (JST)