International quake resistance standard planned

27 September 2007

[Asahi Shimbun, 27 September] Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) will reportedly work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop a global earthquake-resistance standard for nuclear power plants. NISA, part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has requested almost $700,000 in the fiscal 2008 budget to help develop the international standard. A team of Japanese experts will consult with the IAEA as early as next year. Tokyo Electric Power Co's (Tepco's) Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant was damaged by an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on 16 July. The earthquake demonstrated the strength of the plant, despite being struck by a quake of around twice the power of its design basis. The Japanese government has since called for an international standard for earthquake resistance of nuclear power plants. In September 2006, Japan's Nuclear Safety Commission drafted revisions of the screening criteria for quake-resistance designs of nuclear facilities. NISA plans to use the latest data from the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant for guidance on creating new standards. Earthquake-resistance standards for nuclear plants have previously been set on a national level.

Further information

International Atomic Energy Agency
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency

WNA's Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes information paper

WNN: Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear units shutdown on earthquake

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