Chubu Electric Power will withdraw its applications for the safety review of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 under post-Fukushima standards, the company announced on September 14, 2026.
According to the statement, the decision was taken by the utility’s board on the same day after an external investigation into the improper seismic data submitted for the review, first confirmed in December 2025, raised doubts about the applications’ reliability. Chubu Electric Power said it will file the formal withdrawals with the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) once preparations are complete, without specifying a target date.
The company said it will work toward reapplying for the reviews necessary to restart the reactors and that Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant’s importance and necessity remain unchanged. The applications that will be withdrawn were filed in February 2014 for Unit 4 and June 2015 for Unit 3.
Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant’s 1.1GW Unit 3 was commissioned in 1987 and the 1.14GW Unit 4 in 1993. In FY2010, their last full fiscal year of operation, the units generated 6.42TWh and 6.8TWh, respectively, together equivalent to approximately 10% of the Chubu TSO area’s current annual demand. The utility has yet to apply for review of the 1.38GW Unit 5 that was commissioned in 2005. Units 1 and 2 were retired in 2009.
To date, 15 nuclear reactors across Japan have been restarted since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, with their generation covering about 10% of nationwide power demand. Restarts of the units that remain offline will be required for the country to meet its target of the technology contributing about 20% in FY2040 set out in the 7th Strategic Energy Plan.
