Chubu Electric's Chairman Faces Pressure Amid Data Fraud Scandal

Nagoya – Satoru Katsuno, the chairman of Chubu Electric Power, is reportedly contemplating his future amid a scandal involving manipulated earthquake risk data linked to the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. Sources indicate that resignation is a potential course of action as the company grapples with serious allegations of data fraud.

The controversy centers on claims that Chubu Electric engaged in cherry-picking earthquake vibration data during regulatory assessments for the restart of its No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at the Hamaoka facility, located in Shizuoka Prefecture. These practices are believed to date back to at least 2012, raising significant concerns regarding accountability, especially for Katsuno, who has held the chairman position since 2015.

Chubu Electric has been no stranger to controversy, with past scandals including the improper billing of decommissioning costs for its older reactors and overcharging consumers for electricity. Industry insiders have voiced strong criticism of Katsuno's leadership, with many asserting that his continued position is untenable, predicting that his resignation is imminent. A press conference is scheduled for Monday, where Chubu Electric plans to unveil findings from an investigation into the data manipulation claims.

Source: www.japantimes.co.jp