The operator of a Japanese nuclear power plant where a catastrophic accident was set off last year by a massive earthquake and tsunami acknowledged Friday that it had played down safety risks at the facility out of fear that they would lead to a plant shutdown . The Tokyo Electric Power Company , known as TEPCO , said in a report that `` severe accident measures '' were taken in 2002 , which included `` containment venting and power supply cross-ties between units , '' but additional measures were never put in place . Read more : Japan 's nuclear fight intensifies . Part of the reason , the report said , was a concern that implementing the new safety measures `` could spread concern in the sitting community that there is a problem with the safety of current plants . '' TEPCO added that taking such measures could also add to `` public anxiety and add momentum to anti-nuclear movements . '' Friday 's report represents some of the operator 's most definitive language to date about its lack of preparation in protecting the Fukushima Daiichi power plant , which ultimately spewed radiation and displaced tens of thousands of residents from the surrounding area in the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine . Read more : Japan restarts first nuclear plant since Fukushima shutdown . `` There was a latent fear that plant shutdown would be required until severe accident measures were put in place , '' the report said . `` It was possible to diversify safety systems by referencing severe accident measures taken in other countries . '' In the past year , TEPCO has come under intense scrutiny for not aggressively seeking answers to the underlining causes of what prompted the disaster . The Japanese government said in an earlier report that the operator 's and the nuclear regulator 's actions to prepare for disasters were `` insufficient , '' and called the response to the crisis `` inadequate . ''
TEPCO says `` severe accident measures '' were taken in 2002 , but nothing further was done . The Japanese government has been reluctant to release information about the causes of the disaster because it is feared that releasing such details could lead to a public outcry and prompt an international investigation. TEPCO adds that the measures could also `` add momentum to anti-nuclear movements ''