Latest news with #Ono
5 hours 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
5 hours 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.
Hamilton Spectator
5 hours ago
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Tsunami-wrecked 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. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Tsunami-wrecked 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 Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Fukushima radioactive debris removal delayed until 2037
TOKYO: The removal of hundreds of tonnes of radioactive debris from Japan's tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant has been postponed until at least 2037, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) announced. Around 880 tonnes of hazardous material remain inside the facility, which suffered one of history's worst nuclear disasters following a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Tepco official Akira Ono stated that preparatory work for the retrieval process is expected to take '12 to 15' years, pushing the earliest possible start date to 2037. This marks a delay from the company's earlier projection of the early 2030s. Extracting melted fuel and other debris is considered the most challenging aspect of the decades-long decommissioning effort due to dangerously high radiation levels. While small samples have been collected in trial runs using specialised equipment, full-scale removal operations have yet to begin. The revised timeline casts doubt on Tepco and the Japanese government's goal of declaring the Fukushima plant fully decommissioned by 2051. However, Ono maintained that the target remains achievable, calling it the company's 'responsibility' to 'figure out how to meet it,' despite acknowledging the difficulty. Three of Fukushima's six reactors suffered meltdowns in 2011 after the tsunami overwhelmed the plant's cooling systems. - AFP
