MissingSky101
Published on Nov 16, 2013
Fuel rod removal set to start at Fukushima plant
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant plans to take the first step in decommissioning the facility next week, more than 2 and a half years after its triple meltdown.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, said on Friday that workers will start removing nuclear fuel rod units from a storage pool at the plant's Number 4 reactor on Monday.
The pool holds more than 1,500 units, including some that are extremely radioactive and spent and others that are unused. The reactor holds the most units of any at the plant.
In March 2011, a hydrogen explosion severely damaged the building of the reactor. But unlike 3 other reactors at the plant, it did not suffer a meltdown as its pressure vessel was empty.
TEPCO officials say nuclear regulators and outside experts have found no problems with the firm's preparation to cover the damaged building and install a crane to remove the fuel.
Workers plan to transfer the units into a cask in the pool, use the crane to lift out the cask, and transfer the fuel to an outside storage pool about 100 meters away.
TEPCO has 2 casks that can each hold up to 22 units. Workers are to fill the first cask with less radioactive unused fuel. Removal of all the rods is expected to take until late next year.
Safety is a major concern in the project -- the first milestone in an unprecedented decommissioning process that could span 4 decades.
The reactor pool is still littered with small debris that could hamper smooth removal of the units.
The job will require extreme caution, as any damage to the fuel or casks could unleash high-level radiation.
If trouble occurs, workers' exposure could reach the safety limit, seriously setting back the removal process.
Lawmakers to explore nuclear waste disposal planThe operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant plans to take the first step in decommissioning the facility next week, more than 2 and a half years after its triple meltdown.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, said on Friday that workers will start removing nuclear fuel rod units from a storage pool at the plant's Number 4 reactor on Monday.
The pool holds more than 1,500 units, including some that are extremely radioactive and spent and others that are unused. The reactor holds the most units of any at the plant.
In March 2011, a hydrogen explosion severely damaged the building of the reactor. But unlike 3 other reactors at the plant, it did not suffer a meltdown as its pressure vessel was empty.
TEPCO officials say nuclear regulators and outside experts have found no problems with the firm's preparation to cover the damaged building and install a crane to remove the fuel.
Workers plan to transfer the units into a cask in the pool, use the crane to lift out the cask, and transfer the fuel to an outside storage pool about 100 meters away.
TEPCO has 2 casks that can each hold up to 22 units. Workers are to fill the first cask with less radioactive unused fuel. Removal of all the rods is expected to take until late next year.
Safety is a major concern in the project -- the first milestone in an unprecedented decommissioning process that could span 4 decades.
The reactor pool is still littered with small debris that could hamper smooth removal of the units.
The job will require extreme caution, as any damage to the fuel or casks could unleash high-level radiation.
If trouble occurs, workers' exposure could reach the safety limit, seriously setting back the removal process.
Japanese lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties are set to launch a parliamentarians' group to discuss disposal of highly radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.
The move follows a call for a nuclear power-free society by former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Koizumi called on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to decide promptly on a zero nuclear policy instead of restarting idled reactors.
Koizumi cited as a reason, difficulties associated with the construction of disposal sites for highly radioactive waste.
LDP official hints at building new nuclear plants
The secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has hinted at the possibility of studying building new nuclear power plants in Japan as long as their safety can be guaranteed.
Shigeru Ishiba spoke to reporters on Saturday about the country's future energy policy.
Ishiba said the government will first have to restart existing idled nuclear plants after ensuring their safety.
Tepco aiming to cut 1,000 jobs via voluntary redundancy
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Experts: Fukushima plume headed to West Coast isn't just going to pass by like smoke, plant continues to spew into ocean; Pacific to be full of contamination, it's a gigantic experiment — Host: Amazing how many people are in denial (VIDEO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnrrh9...
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