Amidst a lawsuit from shareholders to suspend operations at the Shika Nuclear Power Plant, the Toyama District Court dismissed their claims, prompting criticism from plaintiffs about the ruling's thoroughness.
The Toyama District Court ruled against shareholders from Hokuriku Electric Power Company seeking to halt operations of the Shika Nuclear Power Plant's units 1 and 2, located in Shika, Ishikawa Prefecture. The plaintiffs, who filed the lawsuit in 2019 after a request for a review of unit 2's restart was submitted to the Nuclear Regulation Authority, accused the company's directors of breaching their duty of care due to a lack of necessary safety assessments. They argued that the directors' actions could lead to irreparable damage for Hokuriku Electric Power, fueling the demand for operational suspension.
In delivering the ruling, the court concluded that as long as the company's directors consulted with experts to ascertain the safety of the plant before making decisions on its restart, there was no breach of their duty to care. The ruling maintained that fulfilling the safety measures mandated by the regulatory commission adequately addressed concerns about preventing serious accidents. Significantly, the court emphasized that its judgment remained unchanged, even in light of the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake expected on January 1, 2024.
Following the decision, the plaintiffs' attorney expressed outrage, describing the ruling as a regressive return to the 'safety myth' associated with nuclear power. He condemned the oversight of accountability, emphasizing that ultimately, it is the responsibility of the operators, in this case, the power company, to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities. This case highlights ongoing tensions in Japan's approach to nuclear energy security and corporate responsibility in the wake of past nuclear incidents.
