Post by : Shakul

The Toyama District Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by shareholders of Hokuriku Electric Power Co. seeking to halt the planned restart of reactors at the Shika Nuclear Power Plant in central Japan.

The lawsuit centered on whether restarting two reactors at the Shika plant in Ishikawa Prefecture would violate the company’s duty of care under Japan’s Companies Act, particularly after damage and safety concerns raised by the powerful 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Presiding Judge Toshichika Yaguchi ruled that a violation would not normally arise if the operator decided to resume operations after safety reviews by qualified experts. The court found no immediate legal grounds to block the restart.

Shareholders from Ishikawa and neighboring Toyama prefectures argued that the earthquake exposed structural vulnerabilities and weaknesses in evacuation planning. They claimed company management failed to sufficiently assess the risk of a future major accident, potentially causing irreparable financial and reputational damage.

Hokuriku Electric countered that it has complied with safety standards and regulatory reviews conducted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, which were strengthened after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The utility stated that no new safety issues were identified following post-earthquake inspections and that restarting the reactors aligns with national energy policy.

The Shika plant’s two reactors have remained offline since 2011. The No. 2 reactor is currently undergoing regulatory review for restart under Japan’s post-Fukushima safety framework.

Japan has been gradually restarting nuclear reactors that meet updated safety requirements, as the country seeks to balance energy security, rising fuel import costs, and carbon reduction commitments. The government has positioned nuclear energy as a key component of its long-term energy strategy.

The case also echoes past legal battles over Shika. In 2006, the Kanazawa District Court ruled in favor of residents seeking to halt operations at the plant, though that decision was later overturned by a higher court.

Outside the courthouse, members of the plaintiffs’ legal team held banners expressing disappointment with the ruling, signaling that further legal action or appeals could follow.

The decision underscores ongoing public debate in Japan over nuclear safety, disaster preparedness, and corporate accountability in the wake of past nuclear incidents and natural disasters.

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