Japan nuclear regulator berates Fukushima operator

(AFP) Japan's atomic watchdog summoned the boss of Fukushima operator TEPCO on Friday for a public dressing-down over sloppy standards at the crippled nuclear plant, as yet another problem with radiation-polluted water emerged.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) called in Tokyo Electric Power Co president Naomi Hirose and other executives over "the inappropriate management of contaminated water".

"The problems have been caused by a lack of basic checks," NRA secretary general Katsuhiko Ikeda told Hirose.

"I can't help but say that standards of on-site management are extremely low at Fukushima Daiichi," Ikeda said. He added the utility should strengthen its staffing levels, including by sending workers from other nuclear plants.

Hirose apologised to Ikeda and pledged to increase efforts to deal with the ongoing problems "by using all the company's resources, including people, equipment and money".

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