The Japanese Federation of Electric Power Companies has contracted out their regular safety inspections of spent nuclear fuel transport containers to third parties. This move follows the revelation in December 1999 that five member companies were late carrying out the required self-inspection of their containers that were kept overseas.
Tokyo Electric Power, Kansai Electric Power and seven other power companies, as well as non-member Japan Atomic Power, have separately concluded contracts with the British and French nuclear fuel suppliers BNFL and COGEMA to inspect their containers and submit regular reports on the work. In addition, the work carried out by these firms will be checked by British and French inspection companies. Okinawa Electric Power is the only federation member that has yet to conclude such a contract.
