News Watch
Data Fabrication for Hamaoka Restart Safety Review
Chubu Electric Power Co. announced on January 5 that suspicions had come to light regarding the selection of representative waves in the seismic motion evaluation for the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, which “may have been carried out in a different manner or by design” rather than as had been explained to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) at review meetings.
CNIC has issued a statement calling for a thorough clarification of the facts in this case and a comprehensive reexamination of past reviews, which can be read here: cnic.jp/english/?p=8865
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 6 Restarted
Governor Hanazumi Hideyo of Niigata Prefecture held a special press conference on 21 November 2025 regarding the restarts of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units 6 and 7, saying “I would like to have a vote of confidence or no confidence conducted by the prefectural assembly on whether it would be permissible or not for me to continue in my position, given the judgement to accept the restarts.” On December 22, the prefectural assembly passed a resolution of confidence in the governor.
The Unit 6 reactor restart was railroaded through on 21 January 2026 after a delay of one day. However, on the following day, the 22nd, a malfunction occurred in the control rod drive system, and the reactor was shut down.
CNIC has issued a statement of protest, which can be read here: cnic.jp/english/?p=8871
Governor of Hokkaido Agrees to Tomari Unit 3 Restart
The Governor of Hokkaido replied to Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry on 18 December 2025 that he had agreed to the Tomari Unit 3 reactor restart. At the same time, he made 10 requests, including having the spent fuel removed from the site. The mayors of the four towns and villages where the site is located also voiced their agreement on December 25. The future outlook for the restart is said to be in 2027, after the NRA reviews the construction methods and work on safety measures is completed.
The area around the Tomari Nuclear Power Station receives heavy snow and has few routes for evacuation, so there are issues regarding evacuation during disasters that might result from earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy snow or other causes.
Proposal to Expand Use of Mutsu Interim Storage Facilities
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) and the Japan Electric Power Co. (JAPC) reported on 19 December 2025 to Mutsu City and Aomori Prefecture that they were considering allowing other companies to utilize their jointly funded Recyclable Fuel Storage Co. in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture, as an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. They say they don’t expect the amount delivered to the facility to reach the maximum 5,000 tons that the city council of Mutsu City had originally planned for. The mayor, however, deferred any decision on whether it would be an appropriate way to bury 5,000 tons of spent fuel, while the prefectural governor said, “It will be fine because it will alleviate the burden,” referring to the fact that the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant is not yet operational. He gave his view that the situation there was not yet in order.
Helical Fusion and Aoki Super Sign Electric Power Purchase Deal
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. and Aoki Super Co, Ltd. held a press conference in Nagoya City on 8 December 2025 to announce a purchase contract they had signed for supplying electric power from Japan’s first fusion power plant. Helical Fusion aims to provide Aoki Super, a supermarket chain based in Aichi Prefecture, with electric power from 2030.
