Resumption of work pending… Tokyo Electric Power Company President: “Investigate cause and implement countermeasures”
Tokyo Electric Power Company was scheduled to begin removing nuclear fuel debris from Unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on the morning of the 22nd, but the work was halted during the preparatory work stage in the morning of that day.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said the plant was halted due to problems with the installation of the extraction device, according to local public broadcaster NHK and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei).
There are no plans to resume work on this day. Also, there is no decision yet on whether to resume export work after the 23rd.
Tokyo Electric Power Company President Tomoaki Kobayakawa explained the halt in the removal attempt that day, saying, “I instructed that the work be done with safety as the top priority,” and “I understand that they stopped because there was something concerning.”
He said he would now head to Fukushima, emphasizing that “we will investigate the cause and then implement countermeasures.” “The test removal of nuclear fuel debris is the most important phase of decommissioning. It is essential to proceed with certainty and safety,” he said, adding that safety is “the local wish.”
Tokyo Electric Power Company began preparations for removing nuclear fuel debris at around 7:30 a.m. that day. The original plan was to begin work in the morning to remove less than 3 grams of nuclear fuel debris using a thin pipe-shaped device.
This is the first attempt to remove nuclear fuel debris since the Fukushima accident in March 2011, about 13 and a half years ago. It was originally scheduled for 2021, but was postponed by three years. The removal was expected to take at least two weeks.
It is estimated that there are approximately 880 tons of nuclear fuel debris in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 to 3, which is a mixture of melted nuclear fuel and surrounding structures. It is not easy to approach because it emits extremely strong radiation. Removing the nuclear fuel has been called the ‘biggest challenge in decommissioning.’
There are about 880 tons, but Tokyo Electric Power Company is limiting the weight to less than 3g per removal due to radiation levels.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is aiming to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by 2051. However, the specific decommissioning blueprint has not been drawn up because the method of removing and disposing of nuclear fuel remains has not been decided.
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2024-08-22 15:36:43