Japan's Hokuriku Elec reports minor oil leak from Shika nuclear plant

Hokuriku Electric Power Co

07/01/2024 12:20

TOKYO, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Japan's Hokuriku Electric Power
 9505.T  on Sunday reported a small oil leak from its Shika
nuclear power station, which was shaken by a powerful earthquake
on New Year's Day.
    External radiation levels were not affected and there were
no adverse impacts on the environment or human health, the
company said.
    The magnitude 7.6 quake, which has killed more than 120
people in the Hokuriku region, shook the idled Shika power
station, which is located around 65 kilometres (40 miles) from
the quake's epicentre.
    The utility had already reported temporary power outages,
oil leaks at the transformers, and water spill-over from spent
nuclear fuel pools following Monday's jolt, but no radiation
leakage.
    On Sunday, a small amount of oil film was detected in the
gutter and on the road surrounding the main transformer of the
No. 2 reactor, it said. 
    Additionally, an oil slick measuring about 5 meters by 10
meters was observed floating on the sea surface in front of the
power station, Hokuriku Electric said, adding it promptly
treated the oil film using a neutralizing agent.
    The utility believes the oil slick resulted from a
transformer insulating oil leak during the Jan. 1 quake, which
triggered the fire extinguishing system, dispersing oil and
spraying water around the transformer.
    Subsequently, the oil appears to have entered the gutter due
to rainfall, the company said, adding it was still analysing
further details.
    The oil slick is not within the radiation-controlled area
and there are no external radiation effects, the company said.
    Key external power supplies, monitoring facilities, and
cooling systems at the plant are functioning normally, it added.

 (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi
Editing by Mark Potter)
 ((Yuka.Obayashi@thomsonreuters.com; +813-4520-1265;))