Nuclear plant in Japan shuts down after lightning hits network

TOKYO (AFP) Dec 19, 2003
A 357,000-kilowatt nuclear reactor in Japan's central Fukui prefecture shut down automatically Friday after lightning struck what was likely the electricity network, the plant's operator said.

The No. 1 reactor in Tsuruga, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Tokyo, shut down at 3:28 pm (0628 GMT) after it was unable to send electricity through the grid, a spokesman for the Japan Atomic Power Co. said.

There was no danger of radiation leakage and the plant's emergency cooling system did not kick in, he said.

"There was no problem with the nuclear reactor itself," said spokesman Masao Tabayashi.

It was unknown when the reactor would resume operation, he said.

The No. 2 reactor with 1.16-million kilowatt capacity on the Tsuruga site continued to function normally. The plants feed the Osaka area, the commercial hub of western Japan, as well as central and northern Japan, but not Tokyo, the spokesman said.

There was no danger of blackouts as power companies would likely buy the required electricity from other plants, Tabayashi said.

TERRA.WIRE