Hiroshima Court Rejects Lawsuit Seeking Shutdown of Ikata Nuclear Reactor

On Wednesday, the Hiroshima District Court dismissed a lawsuit brought forth by 337 plaintiffs, including residents from Hiroshima Prefecture, who sought to stop operation of the No. 3 reactor at the Ikata nuclear power plant. The reactor, operated by Shikoku Electric Power, is situated in Ehime Prefecture.

In the decision delivered by Judge Kazumi Ohama, the court concluded there was insufficient proof of a concrete threat to the plaintiffs' safety or lives. It was emphasized that nuclear plants complying with safety guidelines established by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority are generally viewed as having achieved a socially acceptable level of safety.

Central to the lawsuit were allegations from the plaintiffs, who argued that the plant was vulnerable due to potential earthquake risks caused by a fault near the site and insufficient preparedness against volcanic eruptions. In response, Shikoku Electric strongly defended its plant’s safety features, stating that it had been constructed and reinforced according to the latest available seismological knowledge and safety precautions.

This legal proceeding is part of a broader set of litigation surrounding the Ikata plant. In March last year, the Oita District Court rejected a similar lawsuit. Another lawsuit is pending a ruling from the Matsuyama District Court scheduled for March 18. Furthermore, litigation is ongoing at the Iwakuni branch of the Yamaguchi District Court.

Additionally, previous provisional rulings by the Hiroshima High Court led to temporary suspensions of the No. 3 reactor's operations in December 2017 and January 2020. However, both suspensions were later overturned during appeals. The plaintiffs in this latest Hiroshima lawsuit indicated their intention to continue the legal battle by pursuing appeals against the ruling.