The Hamaoka nuclear plant, located in the southwest of Tokyo, finally shut down all its reactors for about two years on Saturday to avoid any further mishap in the future due to natural calamities, a report said.

Chubu Electric Power Company (CEPCO) spokesperson Hiroaki Oobayashi announced the plant’s number five reactor was shut down at 1:00 pm (0400GMT) after the company placed all 205 control rods into the reactor.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan had earlier discussed the closure of the facility, which became operational in 1976, after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi plant, triggering a catastrophic nuclear emergency.

The Hamaoka facility initially had five reactor units but only unit four and five were operational presently. The number four reactor was already shut down on Friday. Unit one and two had ceased operation in 2009 and three is going through a preservation procedure.

The Hamaoka plant was responsible for nearly 12 per cent power output of Cepco and provided energy to Japan’s industrial circle which included major automobile companies like Toyota.

The prime minister declared the plant shall remain closed till adequate security measures are taken to protect it from future calamities.

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