After concluding its inspections of facilities operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency suggested Friday that top Tepco officials were not involved in a systematic coverup of structural problems at the firm's nuclear plants.
Following an investigation of Tepco's headquarters in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Yasuhisa Komoda, deputy director general in charge of nuclear safety and nuclear fuel recycling policy, brushed aside speculation that the company had systematically covered up these problems.
"I had an impression that officials at the head office were hardly aware of the incidents, as Tepco currently gives considerable authority to power plants over their operations," Komoda said.