TOHOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.

Jun 12, 2015

Review of the Schedules for Onagawa and Higashidori Nuclear Power Stations to Comply with the New Regulatory Standards

Tohoku EPCO has been working on both hard and soft safety measures based on the latest findings to enhance safety further at the Onagawa and Higashidori nuclear power stations, including taking voluntary measures deemed important to improve safety and implementing efforts to respond to examinations as to compliance with new regulatory standards.
As for Onagawa Unit 2, since its application for conformity to the new regulation standards, it has been undergoing examination that covers extensive areas, such as, in the earthquake and tsunami category, the evaluation of active faults in the vicinity of the site and the design basis tsunami, as well as, in the category of plant equipment, the evaluation of the effectiveness of measures designed to counter fire and serious accidents within and outside the power station. In the meantime, we have been being engaged in design and construction work based on the knowledge and assessment obtained from ongoing examination process. As a consequence, it has become necessary to newly build underground fuel storage facilities (light-oil tanks) for emergency diesel generators and to address the increasing amount of construction work required for fire protection in the premises.
In light of this situation, we have reassessed the schedule for the construction at Onagawa Unit
2. We will promote the construction work to complete in April 2017; in addition, while gaining local communities' understanding, we will be striving to make preparation for restarting the station.
As for Higashidori Unit 1, "Experts' Meeting on the investigation of fracture zones at the Higashidori Nuclear Power Station" submitted an evaluation statement to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA); therefore, we expect that NRA's examinations as to compliance with new regulation standards, including the assessment of faults in the premises, will be fully in progress. To reinforce safety further, based on findings from other plants that are in a more advanced stage of examination, we have been working on design and construction, including installation of underground light-oil tanks and implementing fire prevention measures, as with Onagawa Unit 2.
Thus, we have reassessed the schedule for the construction at Higashidori Unit 1 and intend to complete the construction in April 2017. With the understanding of local communities, we will
be set out to make preparation for resuming the station.
We, other than satisfying the new regulatory standards, are resolved to continue making efforts to improve safety further in our nuclear power stations.

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