Pipes at 7 thermal plants eroded

Pipes at 7 thermal plants eroded, thickness below standards

TOKYO, Oct. 12 - Oct 12 (The Associated Press)

Pipes at seven thermal plants across Japan have eroded to below the acceptable standard of thickness, increasing the risk of rupture, according to a survey by electric companies released Tuesday.

Corrosion was found at more than 20 points in the seven plants belonging to Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Kansai Electric Power Co., Chugoku Electric Power Co. and Okinawa Electric Power Co. Most of the facilities were more than 20 years old, the companies said.

The survey was conducted by the utility companies on the instruction of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency following a fatal accident at the Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture in August.

Kansai Electric said earlier this month that among its thermal plants that have been operating for less than 20 years, it has found the thickness of pipes was below requirement at three points.

The electric companies also said more than 90 percent of 67,000 vulnerable parts in the pipes at thermal plants with more than 1,000 kilowatts of generation capacity and that are less than 20 years old have not been checked.

Five workers were killed and six others were injured after a badly corroded coolant pipe in the No. 3 reactor at Mihama ruptured and leaked superheated steam.

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