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Corporate Information

 
Press Release (May 11,2011)
Approval of modification on Safety Regulations on Nuclear Reactor Facilities of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station
In connection with the loss of offsite power source at Higashi-dori 
Nuclear Power Station of Tohoku Electric Power Company, which was caused 
by Earthquake Off the Coast of Miyagi Prefecture on April 7th, 2011, we 
received an order*1 from Nuclear and Industrial Agency to apply for 
approval of modification on Safety Regulations on Nuclear Reactor 
Facilities*2. We applied to Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for 
approval of modification on Safety Regulations on Nuclear Reactor 
Facilities of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station on April 21st.

In accordance with the amendment of the interpretation of ministry 
ordinance about restrictions on plant operation, being "there must be two 
operable emergency generators during cold shutdown and fuel replacement", 
we modify the description as per attached regarding the restrictions on 
plant operation in the safety regulations which are associated with 
non-operated diesel generators for emergency.
                                (Previously announced on April 21st, 2011)

The application of modification on Safety Regulations on Nuclear Reactor 
Facilities of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station was approved by 
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry today. 

Attachment: Comparison chart for amendment of safety regulations on 
            nuclear reactor facilities for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear 
            Power Station(PDF 134KB)

*1 The order issued on April 9th, 2011, is as below.

"Regarding interpretation of safety regulations on emergency generating 
facilities: an order"(April 9, 2011)

The Earthquake Off the Coast of Miyagi Prefecture occurred on April 7, 
2011 and Higashi-dori Nuclear Power Station of Tohoku Electric Power 
Company lost the offsite power and emergency generating facilities started 
up to maintain the power source. Although the offsite power has been 
restored, emergency generating facilities shut down due to some troubles. 
Thus, it was reported as a failure to secure the restriction of operation 
regulated in the safety regulations.
Amongst the matters on operation of nuclear reactors facilities in the 
safety regulations stipulated in such as Article 16.7 of the current 
"Rules on the Installation and Operation of Commercial Power Reactors" 
(No. 77 of Ordinance of Ministry of International Trade and Industry, of 
Showa 53 (of 1978)), the interpretation on restriction of operation 
requires one emergency generating facility operable for each nuclear 
reactor in the condition of cold shutdown such as during regular 
inspections and fuel replacement (which includes the cases of storing 
spent fuels in spent fuel pools). However, in consideration of the 
accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station caused by Tsunami 
induced by Tohoku-Chihou-Taiheiyo-oki Earthquake, 2011, it is extremely 
important to secure power source. Therefore, the interpretation was 
amended to require two emergency generating facilities operable which 
connect to necessary emergency alternate-current high-voltage bus line for 
each nuclear reactor (when power stations have more than one nuclear 
reactor, they can count the number of emergency generating facilities of 
other units which are connected to the necessary emergency alternate-
current high-voltage bus line.) 
As a result, it is required to immediately take actions for emergency 
safety measures, ordered on March 30, including securing power supply cars, 
fire fighting engines, fire fighting hose and others and also is required 
to immediately implement amendment of safety regulations of "Rules on the 
Installation and Operation of Commercial Power Reactors", which fulfils 
the above interpretation and also is one of the safety measures for 
emergency, by April 28 of this year.

*2 Safety Regulations on Nuclear Reactor Facilities

In accordance with Act on the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, 
Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors, Paragraph 1, Article 37, the business 
operator shall draw it up and apply for government's approval. It provides 
overall operation on overall security activities in regard to operation of 
power plant, fuel management and radiation dose management.
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