Mitsubishi blamed for Nuclear plant closure

nuclear plant
Southern California Edison took an initial legal step Thursday to try to collect millions, or possibly billions, of dollars in damages from the company that built defective equipment that pushed the seaside San Onofre nuclear power plant into early retirement.

In legal documents, the company claimed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems are liable for defective steam generators that were installed at the plant in a $670 million overhaul in 2009 and 2010, along with costs ranging from buying replacement power to the investment in the now-shuttered plant that the company earlier estimated at over $2 billion.

“In short, Mitsubishi totally and fundamentally failed to deliver what it promised,” said a letter to Mitsubishi from Edison’s lawyers.

A Mitsubishi statement called the filing an “expected part of the contract process” but did not address any of its allegations.

The action represents an early step in what could be a protracted battle over blame for the plant’s closure and who should cover the losses.

The twin-reactor plant was shut down in January 2012, after a small radiation leak led to the discovery of unusual damage to hundreds of virtually new tubes that carried radioactive water in the generators. Edison announced last month it would close the plant for good, surrendering in a costly and drawn-out fight over whether it was too damaged to operate safely.

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