Shika 1 ordered to shut down

15 March 2007

Hokuriku Electric Power Company has beenordered to shut down its Shika 1 boiling water reactor for checks bythe Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The order cameafter Hokuriku admitted a past safety lapse to METI as part of a purgeof records intended to help transform corporate safety culture in allelectric operating companies, nuclear and otherwise. The lapse inquestion was a June 1999 criticality event that occured at Shika 1while it was shut down for a planned inspection. A test during fuel rodmanipulation led to a criticality event that lasted 15 minutes. Furthersafety revelations are to be expected from other nuclear operators asthe 31 March reporting deadline approaches.

Further information

Hokuriku Electric Power Company

Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency

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