Chubu Electric considers nuclear plant suspension

Chubu Electric Power Co held an inconclusive board meeting Saturday over whether to suspend the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.

This was requested by Prime Minister Naoto Kan for safety reasons, participants said.

Suspending it is projected to lead to a loss of about 3.6 million kilowatts of the firm’s estimated output of up to 30.89 million kilowatts against the projected peak demand of 27.09 million kilowatts in the summer, according to the government’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

The Nagoya-based power company will likely study alternative sources such as its thermal power plants and procuring electricity from other utilities, company sources said.

At a hastily arranged news conference Friday evening, Kan said all operations at the Hamaoka plant must be suspended due to concerns that a powerful earthquake could hit the area and trigger another serious nuclear crisis in addition to the one ongoing at a Tokyo Electric Power Co plant in Fukushima Prefecture.

Chubu Electric President Akihisa Mizuno responded in a statement late Friday that the utility will ‘‘swiftly consider’’ the premier’s request. One official said Saturday morning, ‘‘A business judgment at the highest level is required. It is important that we make a decision swiftly and notify society of it.’‘
 
Residents in Shizuoka have long demanded suspension of the Hamaoka reactors. About 79,800 people live within a 10-kilometer radius of the plant. Some residents have filed a request to a regional court to suspend the Hamaoka plant.