September 20,2002

Tokyo --- On September 17, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) issued a report on
the internal investigation into inspection and maintenance problems at its
nuclear power stations. Reflecting on the past problems found in the report, 
the nuclear-related sections have been voluntarily investigating other past
inspection and maintenance work, and have found 8 unreported cases where there
may also have been problems. In these cases, the inspection and maintenance
work was conducted by Japanese power plant manufacturers, Toshiba Corp. and 
Hitachi, Ltd. Today, TEPCO has reported the cases to the Nuclear and Industrial
Safety Agency (NISA) within the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
TEPCO will conduct further investigations under its Internal Investigative 
Committee.

All of the 8 cases concern the pipes in the primary loop recirculation system.
The pipes in the 5 cases (Fukushima Daiichi Unit-1 inspected by Hitachi, Unit-2
by Toshiba, Unit-3 by Toshiba, Unit-4 by Hitachi, Unit-5 by Toshiba) were 
already replaced after TEPCO submitted the construction plan to the Minister of
METI. For the other 3 cases (Fukushima Daini Unit-3 inspected by Toshiba, 
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit-1 by Toshiba, Unit-2 by Toshiba), the ultrasonic test
(UT) originally detected these cracks in preceding self-imposed inspections and
periodical inspections by UT have since confirmed no or insignificant progress 
of the cracks. In addition, TEPCO has evaluated the strength of the pipes and 
confirmed that there is no safety concerns. Based on the safety evaluation, 
these pipes are still being used.

TEPCO would like to express its sincere apologies for causing any distress or 
concerns to those in the vicinity of the nuclear power stations and all the 
parties involved.  Again, TEPCO will continue thorough internal investigations 
to prevent similar unreported cases from occurring in the future.