TEPCO calls for better safety

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) called Thursday for new quake-resistant standards that are five times higher than current levels for its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant.

The new estimate was made following the July 2007 Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, which was far stronger than TEPCO had expected.

The new standard will be used in reinforcement work starting in June at the facility, which remains shut down.

But the Niigata prefectural government has still not indicated whether it would approve resumption of operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa--even with the reinforcements.(IHT/Asahi: May 23,2008)