The operator of a nuclear power plant in central Japan said on Monday its employees may have used cherry-picked data for a potential earthquake in quake-resistance tests at the plant to pass the regulatory screening for restart.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority said the same day it found “wrongdoing” by Chubu Electric Power in the screening process and halted the review.
The incident is a major setback for the Japanese government. Concerns over the safety of nuclear power plants grew strong in Japan after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
But the government is pushing ahead with the resumption of reactors under stricter safety rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a stable power supply.
The utility halted operations at the power plant in May 2011 like other nuclear power plants in Japan following the nuclear disaster.
“This is unbelievable. It completely shatters the trust in the operator,” a senior NRA executive said. “It will make people question its eligibility.”
The Hamaoka nuclear power plant is located in an area where a Nankai Trough megaquake in the Pacific is expected to occur.