Hiroshima High Court overrules go-ahead for restarting nuclear plant near fault line

Despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stance of using nuclear plants to power the world's third-largest economy, the Japanese public has remained staunchly against atomic energy. The Court decision gave power to the people and the matter appears to remain static.

The 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident followed a catastrophic tsunami, shutting down all nuclear power stations in Japan, many of which are still closed.

It was the decision of a lower court that was overruled by the Hiroshima High Court in March, for it would have allowed the reactor at the Ikata nuclear plant in western Japan to resume operations.

Also Read:Japan approves restarting nuclear reactor closest to epicentre of 2011 quake

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Shikoku Electric Power, the plant's operator intends to appeal the high court's ruling as it wanted to resume work at the reactor which had been halted for routine inspections.

[Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (Courtesy: AFP) ]

Failure to properly evaluate the risks posed by a local volcano and seismic faultlines became a strong case after a complaint was lodged by residents of a neighbouring region.

The lower court ruling that paved the way for the reactor to resume functions was revoked by presiding high court judge Kazukate Mori.

Kazukate Mori, the judge presiding over Hiroshima High Court, revoked the lower court ruling which allowed the reactor to resume functioning.

Mori argued that it was not logical to assume that volcanic eruptions can be predicted far in advance, as done so under national standards for operating nuclear reactors; and safety assessments had been insufficient to resume operations.

"There is a fault line within two kilometres from the nuclear plant but Shikoku Electric has not conducted thorough surveys, and the way the Nuclear Regulation Authority reached its assessment that there was no problem contained errors and inadequacies," the judge remarked.

The ruling was criticised by Shikoku Electric and the scientific merit of the firm's argument was emphasized, surprising no one, deemed it safe to operate the reactor.

The utility issued a statement saying, "After closely examining the decision, we will file a petition of objection so that the injunction will be cancelled as soon as possible."