Last cover panel removed from No.1 (2)

October 6, 2015

TEPCO removes final canopy panel at damaged Fukushima reactor building

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

Tokyo Electric Power Co. finished dismantling a canopy covering a damaged reactor building at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to allow workers to start removing debris.

The operation, which began in July and was completed Oct. 5, brings the process of eventual extraction of spent nuclear fuel a step closer.

A giant crane was used to raise each of the six canopy panels, each 40 meters long and 7 meters wide, above the stricken plant’s No. 1 reactor building.

TEPCO officials said grit and dust contaminated with radioactive substances were contained during the work.

TEPCO plans to shortly start removing panels covering the flanks of the reactor building. At the same time, it will try to assess the state of rubble on upper parts of the No. 1 reactor building.

The plant operator will then begin clearing debris at the reactor building, which was damaged by a hydrogen explosion when cooling systems failed after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. It expects to start the work in the latter half of fiscal 2016.