Genden Engineering Services and Construction Co., which in October was found to have falsified data on a container for transporting mixed oxide fuel to be used in a planned thermal neutron reactor, announced on Thursday it will dissolve by next summer as a result of the scandal.

Genden Engineering, affiliated with Japan Atomic Power Co., falsified data on the density of the raw materials and the volume of hydrogen and boron contained in them. The materials shield the neutrons of MOX fuel.

The alteration of the data was found in a material certificate submitted to British Steel Engineering, which supplies the materials.

The decision to dissolve the firm was made after considering its responsibility for causing public distrust in the nuclear administration, the sources said.

Although some of the firm's executives suggested letting the firm retain its name but limiting its functions to only those dealing with atomic power plant maintenance, the plan was abandoned in light of the firm's social responsibility, sources close to the case said.

In a news conference immediately after the data alteration was discovered, Genden Engineering officials said they believed the fabrication occurred because staff members decided to estimate figures for the data, instead of waiting to confirm them, to meet the container's appointed delivery date.

However, it later was found that the section chief responsible for the staffers instructed another firm in charge of data examination to change figures because the actual data were not within designated standards.

According to a Science and Technology Agency committee that probed the case, Genden Engineering altered not only the data of the MOX fuel container but also those of 39 other nuclear-related containers, including 29 used for nuclear fuel.