TOKYO, May 6 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Friday that Chubu Electric Power Co should halt all operations at its Hamaoka nuclear plant in central Japan, due to worries a strong earthquake could cause another nuclear crisis.
Kan said the government will make efforts to prevent the halt of the Hamaoka nuclear reactors from creating power supply problems.
'After deep consideration, I made this decision as the prime minister,' he told a televised press conference.
Kan said he made the decision 'out of concerns for public safety,' given an 87 percent probability forecast by government experts of an earthquake with a magnitude 8 affecting the area served by the utility within the next 30 years.
Hamaoka is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Tokyo and sits near an active earthquake zone.
Kan said the Hamaoka reactors should be stopped until mid- and long-term quake safety measures have been completed.
Japan has called for stricter safety measures following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that damaged Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Utilities now have to keep their reactors shut for longer periods under regular maintenance to make extra checks.
Kan also said some power shortages may occur in the summer when consumption peaks, but he believed that with cooperation and understanding of the public, such problems could be overcome.
Local authorities have been concerned about safety at the plant following the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric's Fukushima plant in northeastern Japan.
(Reporting by Linda Sieg, Risa Maeda and Yoko Kubota; Editing by Chris Gallagher) Keywords: JAPAN NUCLEAR/HAMAOKA (chikako.mogi@thomsonreuters.com)(+813-6441-1871)(Reuters Messaging: chikako.mogi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Kan said the government will make efforts to prevent the halt of the Hamaoka nuclear reactors from creating power supply problems.
'After deep consideration, I made this decision as the prime minister,' he told a televised press conference.
Kan said he made the decision 'out of concerns for public safety,' given an 87 percent probability forecast by government experts of an earthquake with a magnitude 8 affecting the area served by the utility within the next 30 years.
Hamaoka is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Tokyo and sits near an active earthquake zone.
Kan said the Hamaoka reactors should be stopped until mid- and long-term quake safety measures have been completed.
Japan has called for stricter safety measures following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that damaged Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Utilities now have to keep their reactors shut for longer periods under regular maintenance to make extra checks.
Kan also said some power shortages may occur in the summer when consumption peaks, but he believed that with cooperation and understanding of the public, such problems could be overcome.
Local authorities have been concerned about safety at the plant following the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric's Fukushima plant in northeastern Japan.
(Reporting by Linda Sieg, Risa Maeda and Yoko Kubota; Editing by Chris Gallagher) Keywords: JAPAN NUCLEAR/HAMAOKA (chikako.mogi@thomsonreuters.com)(+813-6441-1871)(Reuters Messaging: chikako.mogi.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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