Archive · 8 Jan 2026
Japan Halts Nuclear Plant Screening Over Falsified Data
A big electricity company in Japan called Chubu Electric Power Co.
admitted that they changed some important safety information about their nuclear power plant.
They did this to make it seem safer during checks so they could restart two reactors.
The plant is in a very risky area for earthquakes, and experts have warned about this for a long time.
The company said they are sorry and will investigate what happened.
Because of this, the company's stock price dropped a lot.
The government wants them to explain what went wrong and how they will make sure it doesn't happen again.
The nuclear watchdog in Japan has stopped the safety checks for the reactors and will decide what to do next week.
Japan's nuclear watchdog halted safety screening for two reactors at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant due to falsified earthquake data.
Chubu Electric Power Co. admitted to manipulating seismic data to understate risks and accelerate the screening process.
The company's president apologized and pledged to establish an independent investigation panel.
Shares of Chubu Electric fell 8.2% following the disclosure.
The Hamaoka plant is considered highly dangerous due to its location above the Nankai Trough, with an 87% chance of a powerful earthquake.
- Who
- Chubu Electric Power Co. and Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)
- What
- Halting of safety screening for Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant reactors due to falsified earthquake data
- When
- Screening halted in mid-December 2025, NRA decision by next week
- Where
- Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Why
- To understate seismic risks and accelerate the safety screening process for restarting reactors
- Company
- Chubu Electric Power Co.
- Location
- Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Issue
- Manipulated earthquake safety data
- Consequence
- 8.2% drop in shares
- Investigation Deadline
- April 6, 2026
- Risk Level
- High (87% chance of powerful earthquake)
- Whistleblower Report
- February 2025
- Reactors Involved
- No. 3 and 4
- Regulator
- Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)
- Current Reactor Status
- 13 operational, 20 offline, 24 decommissioned
Sources
Japan's "Most Dangerous" Nuclear Plant Operator Admits That It Manipulated Earthquake Safety Data
Japan’s ‘most dangerous’ nuclear plant manipulating earthquake data? Here's what the power company admits
Japan’s Nuclear Watchdog Halts Plant’s Reactor Safety Screening Over Falsified Data
