TEPCO promises compensation and complete clean-up

March 11, 2016

TEPCO president vows to fulfill responsibility

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160311_35/

The president of Tokyo Electric Power Company has pledged that the utility will fulfill its responsibility for dealing with the aftermath of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Naomi Hirose observed a minute of silence at 2:46 PM at the Fukushima Daiichi plant on Friday. It was the exact time the massive earthquake occurred on March 11th in 2011. He was joined by about 80 staff members, who are taking charge of decommissioning the plant.

Hirose told them that the tsunami shattered the plant operator's overconfidence and conceit.

He said many tasks remain to be done, such as retrieving nuclear fuel and paying damages to affected people. He called for unity in carrying out the tasks.

Hirose later told reporters that the accident has forced residents near the plant to evacuate and suffer hardships, and many of the affected people have died. He said he is very sorry for them.

The TEPCO president also said people may be reluctant to return to the area when evacuation orders for their communities are lifted.

He promised that his company will complete its tasks that include scrapping the plant, compensation, and removing radioactive fallout from the environment.