Chubu Electric Power Suspected of Falsifying Decommissioning Progress at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant

According to disclosures, Japan's Chubu Electric Power Company (CEPCO) is suspected of submitting improper reports to the Japan Spent Fuel Reprocessing and Decommissioning Promotion Organization (NuRO), which manages decommissioning funds, during the cost declaration process for the decommissioning of Units 1 and 2 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, overstating project progress and settling related costs accordingly.

The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Chubu Electric Power decided to shut down Units 1 and 2 of the plant in 2008, with related decommissioning work commencing in 2009. Sources say that when declaring decommissioning project costs, the company is suspected of reporting project progress as faster than actual conditions and using inaccurate data in documents submitted to the fund management organization.

Additional information indicates that Chubu Electric Power is alleged to have altered the quantities of dismantled materials and equipment in copies of contractor construction reports, using those figures in decommissioning cost declarations. The company has stated that it is currently conducting an internal investigation and will issue an announcement once preparatory work is complete. The investigation results are expected to be released as early as the 27th, with explanations to be provided to Omaezaki City in Shizuoka Prefecture, where the plant is located.

Chubu Electric Power has also recently been involved in data issues related to the safety review for restarting Units 3 and 4 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant. In January 2026, the company was found to be suspected of tampering with data used to calculate the "design basis earthquake ground motion," making the seismic values appear smaller than they should be. Design basis earthquake ground motion is a critical foundation for the seismic design of nuclear power plants. This matter is currently under investigation by a third-party committee composed of external lawyers.

The head of Chubu Electric Power's nuclear power division has publicly apologized for the series of improper incidents, stating that the issues have caused concern for the local community and stakeholders. The internal investigation into the decommissioning cost declarations will focus on explaining the specific circumstances, scope, and causes of the improper declarations.