Shika 1 ordered to shut down

Hokuriku Electric Power Company has been ordered to shut down its Shika 1 boiling water reactor for checks by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The order came after Hokuriku admitted a past safety lapse to METI as part of a purge of records intended to help transform corporate safety culture in all electric operating companies, nuclear and otherwise. The lapse in question was a June 1999 criticality event that occured at Shika 1 while it was shut down for a planned inspection. A test during fuel rod manipulation led to a criticality event that lasted 15 minutes. Further safety revelations are to be expected from other nuclear operators as the 31 March reporting deadline approaches.