Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The prime minister's request to shut down all reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear plant was cheered by those longing for stricter safety standards but jeered by others as a stunning decision that will hurt businesses.
Naoto Kan said May 6 the government asked Chubu Electric Power Co. to halt the reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, citing the danger of the long-predicted Tokai earthquake. The plant lies in the focal region of what is expected to be a massive quake.
Omaezaki Mayor Shigeo Ishihara said he was "utterly stunned" by Kan's decision.
"If the government stops the (Hamaoka) nuclear power plant, I think all nuclear power plants should be stopped," Ishihara said.
However, Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu, who has questioned Chubu Electric's anti-disaster measures, welcomed Kan's decision, saying in a statement the central government has given top priority to requests from local officials and residents to ensure safety.
He also asked the government to deal appropriately with any adverse impact on the local economy.
The effects on the economy and business have already been cited by those opposed to the shutdown.
Chubu Electric officials fear that power demand may exceed its capacity in the summer unless it can secure additional supply from its thermal power plants or other utilities.
Its power generation capacity will fall to 26.37 gigawatts, only 770 megawatts above the projected peak demand this summer, if the Hamaoka nuclear power plant is stopped.
The company said demand will increase by 800 megawatts if the summer temperature rises 1 degree.
The No. 4 and No. 5 reactors are in operation at the Hamaoka plant, and Chubu Electric said in April it planned to restart the No. 3 reactor, currently shut down for regular inspections, in July to ensure a stable power supply in the summer.
The three reactors have a combined capacity of 3.62 gigawatts.
The No. 1 and No. 2 reactors are being decomissioned.
When the No. 3 to 5 reactors were halted in summer 2009, Chubu Electric increased capacity at its thermal power plants.
Officials at the Agency for National Resources and Energy said they do not expect an electricity shortage in the region serviced by Chubu Electric this summer.
But other regional utilities have already raised doubts that they can supply sufficient electricity to Chubu Electric.
Kansai Electric Power Co., which has been asked to support Chubu Electric, expects a tight supply-demand condition if it cannot restart nuclear power reactors now undergoing regular inspections.
Hokuriku Electric Power Co. also said it will lack surplus capacity if it cannot restart two reactors as scheduled at its Shika nuclear power plant. The reactors have been shut down for reasons including regular inspections.
Shikoku Electric Power Co. raised concerns that Kan's decision could delay the scheduled restart of the No. 3 reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant.
An official at Toshiba Corp. said the company will be "in deep trouble" if rolling blackouts, similar to those Tokyo Electric Power Co. implemented after the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, are introduced.
Once equipment is stopped, it takes one week to resume production at Toshiba's main semiconductor plant in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
The heads of other municipalities where nuclear power plants are located also expressed surprise at Kan's decision.
"It was a considerably bold decision," said Hiroshi Aida, mayor of Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture.
At TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, reactors were halted after the Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake in July 2007. Four reactors have since resumed operations after they were reinforced against earthquakes.
Aida said he believes there is no need to immediately suspend those four reactors, but he will examine what countermeasures TEPCO takes against future tsunami.
Hideo Kishimoto, mayor of Genkai, Saga Prefecture, described Kan's announcement as "abrupt." Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Genkai nuclear power plant is located in the town.
But Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, citing the safety concerns of local residents, said Kan made a "wise judgment."
Yoshika Shiratori, 78, who represents a group of plaintiffs seeking the suspension of the No. 1 to 4 reactors at the Hamaoka plant, said Kan's words are the most encouraging news she could dream of.
"I thought this country would be finished if it does not reconsider its policies (on nuclear power generation) after the accident in Fukushima Prefecture," Shiratori said. "I hope Kan will carry through his wise decision."
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