Japan's nuclear restart plan hit by data fabrications and safety doubts
Chubu Electric admitted staff selected data that deviated from the regulator's methodology to estimate seismic risk for two Hamaoka reactors under restart review, a move the NRA called reckless and an outrageous breach of safety rules. The incident, compounded by a NRA security lapse and a string of past safety incidents since 2008, undermines public trust in Japan’s safety regime as authorities aim to restart reactors to meet demand and lower power costs, with the Hamaoka restart process now in flux and local officials wary of reopening the plant near the Nankai Trough.