Panel slams Kyushu Electric's ties with Saga

A panel investigating attempts by Kyushu Electric Power Company to manipulate public opinion on one of the firm's nuclear plants has slammed the utility and a local governor for having dubious relations.

The panel of lawyers and other experts submitted its final report to Kyushu Electric on Friday.

The panel was set up after workers of the utility and its affiliates were found to have sent e-mail in favor of restarting the Genkai plant in Saga to a government-sponsored meeting with local residents in June.

Saga Governor Yasushi Furukawa reportedly told Kyushu Electric executives before the meeting that opinions supporting such a resumption had to be aired.

The report says the governor's instruction had a decisive influence on the emailing.

The panel also looked into a public debate hosted by Saga Prefecture in 2005 on a plan to use plutonium-uranium mixed-oxide, or MOX, fuel at the plant. Kyushu Electric had some of its employees attend the event and present opinions in favor of the project.

The report says Saga Prefecture probably urged Kyushu Electric to take such action.

As preventive measures, the panel has advised the firm to avoid contact with and making political donations to governors or mayors of areas hosting nuclear plants.

The report also holds Kyushu Electric President Toshio Manabe responsible for the problems.

Friday, September 30, 2011 19:44 +0900 (JST)