Press Release

March 14, 2007
  • Environmental Policy

Opinions of the Minister of the Environment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Replacement of the Sendai Thermal Power Station

On March 14, 2007, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) submitted the Minister's opinions on the draft environmental impact statement for the replacement of the Sendai Thermal Power Station in Miyagi Prefecture, owned by Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law and the Electric Utility Law.

This project plans to switch the power station's fuel from coal and heavy oil to natural gas, and replace the existing power generating systems to the natural gas-fired combined cycle generating systems. The MOE commented on the following issues of this project:

1. Greenhouse gas (CO2) emission
Further decrease the unit CO2 emission of the total electricity sold by the company by: 1) increasing the operating rate of these new systems; and 2) employing an optimum combination of the company's power stations.

2. Noise
As the noise level along the main roads used for construction traffic is high at a specific area, consider additional measures for noise abatement, such as reducing construction traffic by adjusting work schedules, and take appropriate measures if needed.

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