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Chubu Electric Executives Resign After Earthquake-Risk Data Tampering Scandal
By Drooid · · How we work
Executive Resignations Over Quake Data Tampering
Chubu Electric Power announced that President Kingo Hayashi and Chairman Satoru Katsuno will step down following a scandal in which the company submitted understated earthquake-risk data to regulators. The resignations were disclosed in a company statement released on Monday. In conjunction with the leadership change, Chubu Electric said it will withdraw its applications to restart Units 3 and 4 at the Hamaoka nuclear plant.
Background: Hamaoka Restart Efforts
The Hamaoka plant, situated in a region identified as vulnerable to a “mega-quake,” has been under intensive safety reviews as Japan seeks to revive nuclear power fifteen years after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Earlier this year, Chubu Electric reported that it had provided data to regulators in January that underestimated the seismic hazards at the site, a move that was intended to advance the restart of the two reactors.
Official Statements & Responses
Chubu Electric’s statement framed the resignations as a step to restore public trust and to comply with regulatory expectations. The company also confirmed that it will halt the restart applications while it conducts an internal review. An independent panel that examined the misconduct released a 250-page report, noting that pressure from a “reprimand” over delays in the restart review was a contributing factor to the data-tampering.
Data & Statistics
- Two senior executives (president and chairman) are resigning.
- The scandal involves the submission of earthquake-risk data that underestimated hazards for Hamaoka’s Units 3 and 4.
- The independent panel’s report spans 250 pages and attributes staff pressure as one factor in the misconduct.
Implications for Japan’s Nuclear Policy
The withdrawal of restart applications delays Chubu Electric’s contribution to Japan’s broader goal of expanding nuclear generation to meet energy-security targets. The episode also underscores heightened regulatory scrutiny of seismic safety assessments, potentially influencing how other operators approach data reporting for reactors located in earthquake-prone zones.