Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority may accept Kansai Electric Power Co.’s view that the so-called F-6 crush zone under its Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture is not an active fault, a senior NRA official suggested on Monday.
“If we receive data supporting the contention (by Kansai Electric), we can reach a conclusion” on the crush zone issue, NRA deputy chief Kunihiko Shimazaki said at a meeting of the nuclear regulator’s survey team.
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If the NRA confirms the crush zone, a fractured area in the bedrock beneath the plant, is active, Kansai Electric will not be allowed to restart the two units, which are idle now.
At the day’s meeting, the inspection team urged the utility to analyze data from a drilling survey and show evidence that the crush zone will not become active in the future.
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So much for regulatory independence.