Tag - utilities

 
 

UTILITIES

Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2020
Shikoku Electric again ordered to halt Ikata nuclear reactor over volcano risk
The court said the utility's preparations for eruptions that could endanger the plant were inadequate despite claims it would have plenty of advance warning.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 26, 2019
Some Kyushu Electric coal ships to use LNG, cutting emissions by 20%
Kyushu Electric Power Co. will start using vessels powered by liquefied natural gas to transport coal for thermal power generation, resulting in reduced carbon emissions from shipping.
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2019
Family to seek damages over suicide of Mitsubishi Electric recruit after series of deaths at firm
The bereaved family of a Mitsubishi Electric Corp. recruit who killed himself in August will claim workers' compensation and file a damages lawsuit against the company, as they believe the suicide was the result of verbal abuse from a superior, their lawyers said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2019
Shikoku Electric to remove fuel from Ikata nuclear reactor, a first since MOX work began in 1997
Shikoku Electric Power Co. said Thursday that it will suspend operations of the No. 3 reactor at its Ikata nuclear power plant on Dec. 26 for routine checkups and remove spent mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel from the reactor.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 9, 2019
Tohoku reactor restart: What is the state of Japan's nuclear policy?
In late November, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) gave the green light for restarting the No. 2 reactor at Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa plant in Miyagi Prefecture, which had been damaged in the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami. The announcement once again put the spotlight on the...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 7, 2019
News outlets take time to connect the dots in Kepco gift scandal
In September, media reported that 20 executives of Kansai Electric Power Co. (Kepco) had, for a decade or so, received almost ¥320 million worth of cash and gifts from Eiji Moriyama, the former deputy mayor of Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, who died in March at the age of 90. The compensation was presumably...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 29, 2019
India pollution regulator threatens to shut coal-fired utilities around New Delhi
India's federal pollution regulator has warned coal-fired power plants around New Delhi that they could be shut down for failing to comply with deadlines to meet emissions standards, according to sources and a letter reviewed by Reuters.
BUSINESS
Nov 23, 2019
Japan to assist creation of local power providers that function even during blackouts
The Environment Ministry plans to create a financial aid program to encourage the establishment of community-based power providers that could supply energy locally if disasters bring large-scale outages.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 22, 2019
Japan passes bill to tighten rules on foreign investments related to national security
The amended law, which requires foreign investors to get state permission when acquiring stakes of 1 percent or more in a sensitive company, takes effect next spring.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2019
As extreme storms wreck power grids, Japan turns to home battery networks
After recent typhoons ravaged the nation's power grid and disrupted services to almost 1.4 million customers, the government is encouraging homeowners to invest in storage systems, seeking to marry batteries with existing rooftop solar capacity to create backup electricity networks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 30, 2019
Tepco may become first Japanese utility to issue green bonds
Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. could become the first Japanese utility to issue green bonds.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 22, 2019
California utility considers more blackouts to avoid igniting wildfires
With windy, dry weather in the forecast again, California's largest utility said Monday it's considering shutting off power this week to about a half million people to try and prevent wildfires ignited by electrical equipment.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 4, 2019
Kyushu Electric to halt two reactors next year due to delay in implementing anti-terrorism measures
Kyushu Electric Power Co. said Thursday it will halt two reactors next year due to a delay in implementing anti-terrorism measures required by regulators, in the first such suspension under stricter rules set after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 15, 2019
Typhoon damage reveals issues with safety standards and facility renewal at Tepco
Typhoon Faxai, which caused extensive and continued power outages in Chiba Prefecture, has also focused a spotlight on problems involving safety standards and infrastructure renewal.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 13, 2019
Chiba blackouts might last another two weeks, Tepco unit says
Tepco Power Grid Inc. said Friday that the blackouts in Chiba Prefecture caused by Typhoon Faxai could last another two weeks, leaving residents and a local mayor debilitated and frustrated.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 12, 2019
Power returns to parts of typhoon-hit Chiba Prefecture, but 300,000 still in the dark
Full recovery for the remaining households will have to wait until Friday or later, a utility firm said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 28, 2019
Tepco, Chubu Electric, Toshiba and Hitachi to discuss four-way nuclear alliance
Tepco, Chubu Electric Power, Toshiba Corp. and Hitachi Ltd. said Wednesday they have agreed to discuss potential collaboration on nuclear power, as the industry faces a challenging business environment following the 2011 Fukushima crisis.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2019
NRA safety license for Sendai reactors legal, Fukuoka court finds, dismissing volcano risk lawsuit
The district court says it found nothing illegal with a safety clearance granted to two reactors in Kyushu that were restarted after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 5, 2019
Gas industry donations of ¥39 million call Japan government panel's neutrality into question
Three members of the government's advisory panel on city gas market deregulation repeatedly received donations from a gas industry organization, documents obtained by Kyodo News showed Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 15, 2018
Hitachi and GE to jointly develop next-generation reactors
The longtime partners in the nuclear business will aim to commercialize the reactors, which they hope will be cheaper and safer, by the 2030s.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals