Chubu Electric Executives Resign Over Nuclear Safety Data Fraud

President Kingo Hayashi and Chairman Satoru Katsuno of Chubu Electric Power resigned on September 14, 2026, following a scandal involving the falsification of earthquake-risk data. The company also announced it is withdrawing safety screening applications to restart the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.

An independent panel's 250-page report attributed the misconduct to management pressure on staff to expedite the restart review process. The Nuclear Regulation Authority had approved seismic estimates in September 2023 but suspended the review in late December after a whistleblower reported data fraud in February 2025. The Hamaoka plant is located near the Nankai Trough, an area prone to potential megaquakes.

Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa described the situation as "extremely regrettable" and stated that authorities would consider the strictest necessary response. The withdrawal of the applications forces the utility to restart a regulatory process that has already lasted over a decade as the company attempts to regain public trust. This failure occurs as Japan seeks to revive nuclear energy to meet energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.