Kawauchi Nuclear Plant Safety Scrutinized After Strong Kagoshima Earthquake

A specialist committee convened on 29 March to examine the safety of the Kawauchi Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture after a magnitude‑5‑plus quake struck the region on 28 March. Kyushu Electric Power reported that both units 1 and 2 remain in normal operation and that recent inspections found no abnormalities. The committee questioned the seismic resilience of a proposed dry‑storage facility for spent fuel, to which the utility replied that the design will feature walls up to one metre thick and will meet appropriate earthquake‑resistance standards. The prefectural governor also called for thorough review by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Separately, the Nuclear Regulation Authority disclosed that data from six monitoring posts in Kumamoto Prefecture have not been transmitted since the night of 27 March. Chairperson Shinsuke Yamanaka said the outage does not pose an immediate safety concern and that the cause—whether the recent Kumamoto earthquake or a technical fault—will be investigated.

Both agencies emphasized that current plant operations remain stable while further safety assessments continue.