Latest news with #AkiraOno
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant faces new delay in removing melted fuel debris
The Unit 3 reactor covered with protective housing at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, run by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), is seen on Feb. 20. By Mari Yamaguchi The Japanese operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Tuesday said the start of full-scale removal of melted fuel debris will be delayed for several years until 2037 or later, the latest setback underscoring the challenges ahead. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, or TEPCO, said it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting full-scale removal of melted fuel debris at the No. 3 reactor. That preparation includes reducing radiation levels and building necessary facilities in and around the reactor. Overall, at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel has mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three reactors that suffered meltdowns at the plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The delay again sets back the 2051 target set by Japan's government and TEPCO for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a tiny sample of melted fuel debris in November was already three years behind, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning work could take more than a century. TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO. Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval. After small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Fukushima debris removal delayed until 2037 or later
The Japanese operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant said the start of full-scale removal of melted fuel debris would be delayed for several years until 2037 or later, the latest setback underscoring the challenges ahead. Advertisement The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) said on Tuesday it would need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting full-scale removal of melted fuel debris at the No 3 reactor. That preparation includes reducing radiation levels and building necessary facilities in and around the reactor. Overall, at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel have mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three reactors that suffered meltdowns at the plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Nobuhide Sato, a risk communicator at Tepco shows the X-6 penetration, a hole a device must pass for fuel debris retrieval during a visit to Unit 5 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in February. Photo: AFP The delay again sets back the 2051 target set by Japan 's government and Tepco for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a tiny sample of melted fuel debris in November was already three years behind, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning work could take more than a century. Tepco said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 22:18 Finding a future in Fukushima after Japan's worst nuclear accident Finding a future in Fukushima after Japan's worst nuclear accident 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty [to achieve the target] but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at Tepco.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant faces new delay in removing melted fuel debris
The Unit 3 reactor covered with protective housing at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen in Okuma town, northeastern Japan on Monday Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) The Japanese operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Tuesday said the start of full-scale removal of melted fuel debris will be delayed for several years until 2037 or later, the latest setback underscoring the challenges ahead. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, or TEPCO, said it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting full-scale removal of melted fuel debris at the No. 3 reactor. That preparation includes reducing radiation levels and building necessary facilities in and around the reactor. Overall, at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel has mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three reactors that suffered meltdowns at the plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The delay again sets back the 2051 target set by Japan's government and TEPCO for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a tiny sample of melted fuel debris in November was already three years behind, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning work could take more than a century. TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO. Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval. After small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor. Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
3 days ago
- Science
Fukushima nuclear plant faces new delay in removing melted fuel debris
The Japanese operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Tuesday said the start of full-scale removal of melted fuel debris will be delayed for several years until 2037 or later, the latest setback underscoring the challenges ahead. The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, or TEPCO, said it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation before starting full-scale removal of melted fuel debris at the No. 3 reactor. That preparation includes reducing radiation levels and building necessary facilities in and around the reactor. Overall, at least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel has mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris inside the three reactors that suffered meltdowns at the plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The delay again sets back the 2051 target set by Japan's government and TEPCO for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a tiny sample of melted fuel debris in November was already three years behind, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning work could take more than a century. TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO. Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval. After small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Fukushima nuclear plant clean-up faces yet another delay
The full-scale removal of melted nuclear fuel from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi power plant has been delayed by several years, with the operator now targeting 2037 or later for the crucial operation. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) announced the setback on Tuesday, underscoring the immense challenges still facing the site. TEPCO stated that 12 to 15 years of preparation are required before commencing full-scale debris removal at the No. 3 reactor, involving radiation reduction and facility construction. An estimated 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel and structural debris remain within the three reactors that suffered meltdowns following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. This latest delay further jeopardises the Japanese government and TEPCO's existing 2051 target for decommissioning the plant. A test retrieval of a small fuel sample in November was already three years behind schedule, with some experts suggesting the entire decommissioning process could extend beyond a century. TEPCO said it plans to stick to the current completion target of 2051. 'Realistically, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the target) but we will not drop the goal just yet, as we still don't have a clear work schedule after the full-scale removal begins,' said Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at TEPCO. Ono said TEPCO plans to examine preparation work necessary at the two other reactors within the next couple of years ahead of full-scale melted fuel retrieval. After small missions by robots to gather samples, experts will determine a larger-scale method for removing melted fuel, first at the No. 3 reactor. In May, Japan announced plans to use slightly radioactive soil, stored near Fukushima nuclear plant, for flower beds outside Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's office.
