Kyushu Electric rejects governor's call to suspend nuclear reactors

[yuiyoshida]

The No. 1 and No. 2 reactors are seen at the Sendai nuclear power plant in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, in this photo taken from a Mainichi helicopter. (Mainichi)

KAGOSHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Kyushu Electric Power Co. on Monday rejected a request by the governor of Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan to immediately suspend operations of two reactors at its Sendai nuclear plant there.

In a meeting at the prefectural government office, the utility's president, Michiaki Uriu, handed Gov. Satoshi Mitazono a written rejection, seeking to gain understanding about its claim that the safety of the facility will be proved through a regular checkup scheduled to be held as early as October.

Mitazono will scrutinize the paper and consider his government's response. Although a governor has no legal power to suspend the operation of reactors, he could still repeat his request by issuing a statement if he finds the utility's response unsatisfactory.

In the checkup, Kyushu Electric plans to examine its reactor vessels and a facility for keeping spent nuclear fuel as sought by the prefecture.

The company does not plan to hold any new probe into possible active faults near the plant, saying it has already thoroughly checked them and is ready to explain the survey results to the governor.

more...
http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160905/p2g/00m/0dm/043000c

[FBaggins]

1. "Although a governor has no legal power to suspend the operation of reactors,

he could still repeat his request"

Like the unarmed private security guard yelling "Stop!... or I'll yell 'stop!' again!" ?