Business News
Japan utility to freeze nuclear power project
Oct 17, 2011, 12:55 GMT
Tokyo - Hokkaido Electric Power Co said Monday it would postpone a plutonium-thermal power generation project at its nuclear power plant on Japan's northern island, after the company was accused of manipulating public opinion.
A report filed by an independent panel said the utility had asked employees and residents supporting the project to express opinion in favour of the nuclear energy at symposiums and other events organized by the central and local governments.
Hokkaido Electric was planning to implement its so-called pluthermal power generation in spring of 2012 at reactor 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant on the island.
Hokkaido Electric president Yoshitaka Sato told a news conference that the utility would accept the findings by the panel set up by the company to investigate the scandal.
Sato also said that the utility had decided to impose 30-per-cent salary cuts on him, chairman Tatsuo Kondo and two executive vice presidents for three months.
The scandal reinforced public mistrust in the nuclear power industry and apparently made it difficult for the restart of idled nuclear reactors.
Only 10 of the nation's 54 nuclear reactors are in operation in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The plant has been leaking radioactive material since it was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Plutonium-thermal generation uses fuel made from a mixed oxide of plutonium and uranium (MOX fuel).
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