information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
2 Novembre 2013
November 2, 2013
The utility operating Japan's crippled nuclear power plant said Nov. 1 that it will work with the U.S. Department of Energy in decommissioning the site and in dealing with radioactive water problems.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Naomi Hirose said he agreed to accept U.S. help in discussions with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz as they visited the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on Nov. 1 to inspect preparations to remove fuel rods from a storage pool.
The plant has recently had a series of mishaps, including leaks of radioactive water from storage tanks. The incidents, many of them caused by human error, have added to concerns about TEPCO's ability to safely close down the plant, which suffered multiple meltdowns after being hit by a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Following criticism of its perceived reluctance to accept foreign help, Japan has recently begun to show more willingness to do so.
Operators of the plant are currently making final preparations to remove fuel rods from an uncovered cooling pool at Unit 4--one of four reactor buildings damaged in the crisis, and the one considered at highest risk. Removing the fuel rods from the cooling pool is the first major step in a decommissioning process at the plant that is expected to take decades.
The fuel removal at Unit 4 was given preliminary approval by Japanese regulators on Oct. 30 and is to start by mid-November following a final go-ahead.
"As Japan continues to chart its sovereign path forward on the cleanup at the Fukushima site and works to determine the future of their energy economy, the United States stands ready to continue assisting our partners in this daunting yet indispensable task," Moniz said in a statement on Nov. 1. He said a U.S.-Japan commission to strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear research and development, as well as Fukushima cleanup, emergency response, and regulatory issues, will meet in Washington next week.
Despite public concerns over potential risks of radiation from the plant, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has pushed for a restart of the country's nuclear reactors, which are currently all offline for safety checks. Moniz said he expects nuclear power will remain a crucial part of the energy mix as the world tries to mitigate global warming.
"We will work together to tackle many challenges toward decommissioning," Hirose said in an interview with Japanese media. "I have high hopes that we will be able to benefit from U.S. experience and expertise at the Fukushima plant."
The two sides hope to contribute to global nuclear power by sharing technology in stabilizing and decommissioning the plant, Hirose said.
"The success of the cleanup also has global significance. So we all have a direct interest in seeing that the next steps are taken well, efficiently and safely," Moniz said in a speech on Oct. 31 in Tokyo.
Moniz, escorted by Hirose, inspected the Unit 4 pool area, as well as storage tanks for contaminated water, radioactive water treatment units and other facilities at the plant.
The reactor building was damaged by hydrogen explosions, and remains a source of international concern about a catastrophic open-air meltdown in case of a pool collapse, despite TEPCO's repeated reassurance that it has reinforced the pool and that the building can withstand another major earthquake.
TEPCO also has appointed a former U.S. regulator who led the cleanup of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the United States as an adviser.
AP
Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Naomi Hirose said the utility will work with the U.S. Department of Energy in decommissioning the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant and in dealing with radioactive water amassing at the site.
Hirose said he agreed to accept the offer of help in discussions with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz as they visited Fukushima No. 1 on Friday to inspect preparations to remove spent fuel rods from the storage pool of reactor 4.
The plant has recently seen a series of setbacks, including radioactive water gushing from storage tanks into the Pacific. The incidents, many of them caused by human error, have added to concerns about Tepco’s ability to safely dismantle the complex, which suffered multiple meltdowns after being hit by the March 2011 quake and tsunami.
Following criticism of its perceived reluctance to accept foreign help, Japan has recently begun to show more willingness to do so.
Final preparations are currently being made to remove fuel rods from the uncovered cooling pool of unit 4 — one of four reactor buildings damaged in the crisis, and the one considered at highest risk. Removing the fuel rods from the cooling pool is the first major step in a decommissioning process that is expected to take decades.
The fuel removal at reactor 4 was given preliminary approval by regulators Wednesday and is set to start by the middle of the month following a final go-ahead.
“As Japan continues to chart its sovereign path forward on the cleanup at the Fukushima site and works to determine the future of their energy economy, the United States stands ready to continue assisting our partners in this daunting yet indispensable task,” Moniz said in a statement late Friday.
He said a Japan-U.S. commission to strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear research and development, as well as Fukushima cleanup, emergency response and regulatory issues, will meet in Washington this week.
Despite public concerns over potential radiation risks from the No. 1 plant, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has pushed for a restart of the country’s other nuclear reactors, which are currently all offline for safety checks. Moniz said he expects atomic power will remain a crucial part of the global energy mix as nations try to mitigate global warming.
“We will work together to tackle many challenges toward decommissioning,” Hirose said in an interview with public broadcaster NHK. “I have high hopes that we will be able to benefit from U.S. experience and expertise at Fukushima No. 1.”
Hirose said the two sides hope to contribute to global nuclear power by sharing technology in stabilizing and decommissioning the plant.
In a speech Thursday in Tokyo, Moniz said: “The success of the cleanup also has global significance. So we all have a direct interest in seeing that the next steps are taken well, efficiently and safely.”
Moniz, escorted by Hirose, inspected the reactor 4 pool area, as well as storage tanks for contaminated water, radioactive water treatment units and other facilities at the plant.
The reactor 4 building, damaged by hydrogen explosions in March 2011, remains a source of international concern about a catastrophic open-air meltdown in case of a pool collapse, despite Tepco’s repeated reassurances that it has reinforced the pool and that the building can withstand another major earthquake.
Tepco also has appointed as an adviser a former U.S. regulator who led the cleanup of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear diaster in Pennsylvania.
November 1, 2013
US, TEPCO to work together on Fukushima plant
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131101_35.html
The US Energy Secretary and the president of Tokyo Electric Power Company have agreed to enhance technical cooperation to better deal with problems at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Secretary Ernest Moniz toured the plant on Friday accompanied by TEPCO President Naomi Hirose.
Moniz inspected wells to monitor the spread of underground radioactive contamination and equipment to pump up radioactive water close to the ocean.
Groundwater flows from nearby mountains into the plant compound, absorbs radioactive substances there and then leaks into the ocean. TEPCO is still unable either to identify exactly where radioactive water is leaking or to keep track of the movement of groundwater.
Moniz reportedly said Energy Department researchers are currently working on technologies to contain contaminated water and they can be of help.
A radiation leak at the Hartford nuclear site in the state of Washington earlier this year prompted the US Energy Department to set up a research institute to develop technologies to handle such accidents.
Moniz and Hirose agreed to strengthen technical cooperation in 5 fields. These include disposal of radioactive water, preventing the contamination of underground water and the removal of melted nuclear fuel.
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