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'Long closure' for Japanese plant Power cut fears after Japan quake
(about 6 hours later)
A Japanese nuclear plant damaged by a strong earthquake on Monday may not be allowed to reopen for more than a year, news reports from Tokyo say. There are fears of power shortages in Tokyo, as the scale of the earthquake damage to the country's biggest nuclear power station becomes clear.
The government wants the Kashiwazaki plant to stay closed for however long it takes for safety checks to be made, the Nikkei newspaper said. The government reportedly wants the Kashiwazaki plant to stay closed for more than a year for safety checks.
The operators have been criticised after revealing the 6.8 magnitude quake caused more than 50 malfunctions. Kashiwazaki contributes about 12% of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's supplies to the capital.
On Wednesday they said a radiation leak had been worse than previously thought. Tepco has been criticised for revealing that Monday's quake caused more than 50 malfunctions at its Niigata plant.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said that its officials had miscalculated the radioactive level of water that leaked into the sea, but that it remained well below danger levels. Tepco is considering restarting six mothballed thermal power plants to meet demand over the summer.
A small amount of radioactive gas was also emitted, there was a fire at an electrical transformer and a number of drums containing low-level nuclear waste fell open. The company has also asked six other Japanese power companies to sell it emergency electricity until the end of September.
Tepco said that none of the malfunctions posed a danger to the public or the environment, but municipal officials and the industry minister have ordered the plant to be closed until safety is assured. "We are working hard to prevent the worse case scenario, an energy shortage," Shogo Fukuda, Tepco spokesman, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
If the seven-reactor plant remains closed for a long time, Tepco could restart unused thermal power plants to meet demand over the summer, Reuters news agency quoted a Tepco spokesman as saying. "We would also call on our customers to redouble their energy-saving efforts."
Tepco has already asked six other power companies to help compensate for the closure of the Kashiwazaki plant. Tepco did not say when Kashiwazaki might re-open. The safety checks alone are expected to take until the end of August.
But the Nikkei newspaper reported on Thursday that the government could order the plant to be closed for as long as a year.
Impact on automakersImpact on automakers
On Wednesday, Tepco admitted that 50% more radiation was discharged into the sea than had initially been reported, although this remains well below danger levels.
Japanese nuclear safety fears
The reported number of barrels containing low-level nuclear waste that tipped over at the plant was increased from 100 to 400, with the lids knocked off 40 of them.
The malfunctions and the subsequent revelation that a fault line could stretch directly under the plant have triggered renewed concern in Japan about the safety of its nuclear industry.The malfunctions and the subsequent revelation that a fault line could stretch directly under the plant have triggered renewed concern in Japan about the safety of its nuclear industry.
Most nuclear power stations in Japan are built to similar specifications as the plant in Niigata, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo.Most nuclear power stations in Japan are built to similar specifications as the plant in Niigata, says the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo.
There are fears that they too could be damaged if they were hit by an earthquake of similar intensity.There are fears that they too could be damaged if they were hit by an earthquake of similar intensity.
A minister has asked power companies to check as soon as possible whether all their nuclear facilities can withstand strong tremors, but the power companies have told them that could take three years, our correspondent adds.A minister has asked power companies to check as soon as possible whether all their nuclear facilities can withstand strong tremors, but the power companies have told them that could take three years, our correspondent adds.
Monday's earthquake left 10 people dead. Hundreds more were injured and scores of homes have been flattened.Monday's earthquake left 10 people dead. Hundreds more were injured and scores of homes have been flattened.
The earthquake has also affected Japan's automakers.The earthquake has also affected Japan's automakers.
The temporary closure of a factory in Kashiwazaki belonging to key supplier Riken Corp - a maker of transmission and engine parts - will force top manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan to scale back production.The temporary closure of a factory in Kashiwazaki belonging to key supplier Riken Corp - a maker of transmission and engine parts - will force top manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan to scale back production.
Toyota is to stop production lines at its plants in Aichi on Thursday and Friday, and review the situation on Monday, the Associated Press news agency quoted a spokesman as saying.Toyota is to stop production lines at its plants in Aichi on Thursday and Friday, and review the situation on Monday, the Associated Press news agency quoted a spokesman as saying.
Are you in the area affected by the earthquake or do you live near a nuclear plant? Are you worried about nuclear leaks? Send us your comments using the form below:
Are you in the area affected by the earthquake or do you live near a nuclear plant? Are you worried about nuclear leaks? Send us your comments using the form below:
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