Japan: Chubu Electric Power is suspected of having manipulated data regarding earthquake resistance after a quake in 2009.

Chubu Electric Power, an important energy producer in Japan, is accused of manipulating data regarding earthquake resistance, according to a source from the Kyodo agency.

These revelations come after the company admitted that, starting in 2012, it selected favorable data to establish seismic resistance standards for reactors 3 and 4 at the Hamaoka plant, which it wanted to restart. Initially, it was believed that the data manipulation began after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, but the Kyodo source suggests that the practice could be older.

In 2009, reactor 5 at Hamaoka was subjected to strong seismic shocks, exceeding the designed resistance limits, and the company began generating favorable seismic data to avoid additional safety requirements from the government.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan confirmed that Chubu Electric continued to manipulate data even after an investigation was opened. This new information severely affects public trust in the safety of nuclear facilities in Japan.