Press Releases & News
2004
August 18,2004
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
Submission of a Report on Inspections of Nuclear Power Plants in Relation to the Pipe Thinning Phenomenon
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. submitted a report on inspections in relation to the pipe thinning phenomenon to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) today.
The report compiled today was the result of investigations, conducted in accordance with the written instruction issued by METI ("Instruction to compile an investigative report in response to pipe thinning phenomena," as of 08/11/2004) regarding the pipe thinning event at Mihama Unit 3. The contents of the report are outlined below.
1. Result of Investigation (1) Regarding locations subject to the inspection and reporting to the government, four sections were found not to be under thinning control. The operating steam converter has already been shut down and isolated.

Sections without Thinning Control

(2) The integrity of eleven sections was confirmed from past measurement results of the same sections at other plants having the same specifications, although these sections were not included in our original inspection program (for 43,179 sections).
Sections Whose Integrity Was Confirmed from Measurements at Other Plants Having the Same Specifications

2. Measures to Be Taken - - Sections without thinning control
In case the steam converters are not operating - The sections' integrity will be reviewed by measuring the wall thickness of the piping as soon as appropriate arrangements have been made.
- In case the steam converters are operating
- Safety will be assured first by stopping the steam converters and isolating them. Then the integrity of the relevant section will be reviewed by measuring the wall thickness of the piping.
- - Sections whose integrity was confirmed through measurements at other plants having the same specifications:
- Takahama Unit 3 will be shut down for inspections, and the integrity of relevant sections will be evaluated so that the residents of Fukui Prefecture and other local communities can be reassured at the earliest possible date.
- Takahama Unit 4 and Ohi Unit 3 have been shut down. During their outage period, the relevant sections will be inspected to ensure their integrity.
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