Today, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) submitted an application for
the emergency and temporary use of the Shiobara Power Station (location: Nasushiobara
City, Tochigi Prefecture; capacity: 900,000 kW; pumped storage hydroelectric power
station*1) in accordance with Article 23 of the River Law (permission for use of
river water) to the head of the Kanto Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The Shiobara Power Station was revoked of its license under Article 23 of the River
Law by the head of the Kanto Regional Development Bureau on May 16, 2007, because of
data falsification and defective paperwork. TEPCO is currently proceeding with
measures to stop leakage from the upstream Yashio Dam balancing reservoir as we work
towards reapplication under the Article 23.
Under this circumstance, the Niigata-Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake that occurred on July 16,
2007, led to a shutdown of all units of TEPCO´s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power
Station, with no prospect for it to reopen this summer. If the weather grows very hot,
peak demand may reach approximately 64 million kW. In order to ensure stable supply
of power, TEPCO applied for a permission to use the river water under Article 23 of
the River Law for a limited period so that we can use the Shiobara Power Station in
this emergency in order to contribute to the steady supply of electricity, with the
understanding of local residents.
TEPCO is making every effort to secure power supply in order to provide electricity
to our customers without imposing any inconvenience.
Again, TEPCO sincerely apologizes to the public, especially to those living nearby
the site, for the anxiety and trouble caused by of the recent earthquake.
*1:Pumped storage hydroelectric power station
Because such power stations possess an outstanding characteristic of taking only
a few minutes to reach full output after starting and requiring only seconds to
adjust output, they can quickly adjust to sudden changes in electricity demand.
This enables them to play a major role in supplying power in the afternoon when
demand is highest.
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