Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2015

TEPCO CEO Naomi Hirose Visits NYC and Washington with Message of Progress and Thanks

At meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Moniz, TEPCO leader expresses gratitude for U.S. help after Fukushima accident

TOKYO, May 8 - TEPCO President Naomi Hirose has recently completed a two-day visit to the United States, conveying a message of gratitude and progress at Fukushima, and laying out his vision for the future.

He traveled to New York for a discussion with the Council on Foreign Relations, and concluded his visit in Washington by meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

As he departed for Tokyo, President Hirose said, "The people and government of the United States stood with Japan after 3/11 [the date Japan was struck by a devastating earthquake and tsunami], and have provided enormous technical support and encouragement since that time. I was pleased to have the opportunity to convey our gratitude for that support, and to provide Secretary Moniz - who has personally visited Fukushima - an update on our progress there."

Meeting with Moniz

In his meeting with Secretary Moniz, who is a nuclear physicist, President Hirose expressed his and TEPCO's appreciation for the technical support the Energy Department has been providing, as well as the broad support of the U.S government, including Ambassador Caroline Kennedy's visit to the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

In his report on progress, President Hirose noted the successful removal of fuel from Unit 4, the recent collection of important data from robots on conditions inside the Unit 1 reactor containment vessel, improvements in water treatment and storage on the site, and the overall establishment of a more effective nuclear safety culture throughout the company.

President Hirose was accompanied on the visit to Secretary Moniz by former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dr. Dale Klein, who currently chairs the independent Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee overseeing TEPCO's implementation of its Nuclear Safety Reform Plan.

"I believe President Hirose was very well received here in Washington, and his messages of thanks and progress were important to convey, along with a realistic appraisal of the many challenges ahead," Dr. Klein said. "I believe TEPCO is fortunate to have a leader who can carry this message so effectively to the international community."

Lady Barbara Judge, CBE, deputy chairman of the NRMC, applauded their visit, saying, "As TEPCO continues its efforts to decontaminate and decommission the nuclear facilities in Fukushima, it is important to build relationships like this with the international community, which has offered valuable technical assistance in the cleanup, and whose citizens are deeply interested in its progress."

The Council on Foreign Relations

The day before his Washington visit, President Hirose conveyed a similar message to the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-governmental organization based in New York City. In that discussion, which included members of the financial community, he also emphasized the significance of what happens at Fukushima to the global economy. Nuclear energy, both in Japan and elsewhere will remain an important part of the energy mix as governments confront the challenges of climate change and the uncertainties associated with relying on fossil fuels from unstable regions.

"We have learned that safety cannot be taken for granted," he said. "We are working diligently not only to operate safely but to instill a safety culture - one in which workers are empowered to question situations, raise concerns, anticipate the unexpected, and emphasize safety over schedules."

The experience and its aftermath also reinforced the importance of effective communications. "We did not communicate as effectively as we should have," President Hirose acknowledged, noting that the company has been working hard to communicate more quickly and transparently than in the past.

About TEPCO

Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) is Japan's largest power company, supplying energy to the greater Kanto area, including Japan's two most populous cities, Tokyo and Yokohama. Its 34,000 employees are committed to providing safe, reliable power to its 29.0 million customers, diversifying energy resources to ensure sustainability, and contributing to economic growth while fully meeting its responsibilities after the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
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