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May 11, 2011. Power outages possible after Hamaoka closure in Japan

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

The suspension of activities at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant southwest of Tokyo may lead to power supply problems in summer 2011, Japanese Economy Minister Kaoru Yosano said on May 10th. The summer months typically see greater energy consumption as air conditioning use rises. A number of major Japanese manufacturers have production facilities within the service area of the company operating Hamaoka, raising fears that they could suffer power outages, forcing them to cut hours and furlough employees. The operating company agreed on May 9th to suspend operations at the plant, which is located in a seismically active area. The Japanese government called for the plant's closure in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, which was sparked by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.