Latest news with #TokyoElectricPowerCompanyHoldings
Yomiuri Shimbun
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
TEPCO Announces Delay to Large-Scale Retrieval of Debris at N-Plant; 2051 Still Eyed for End of Process
The start of the large-scale retrieval of melted nuclear fuel from reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has been delayed to between 2037 and 2040, TEPCO announced Tuesday. The retrieval work was originally set to start in the early 2030s, but it has been pushed back as TEPCO has found that it needs to demolish a structure with high levels of radiation adjacent to the No. 3 reactor building to ensure the safety of the work. Although the start is delayed, the government and TEPCO still aim for the decommissioning of the reactors to be completed by 2051. The 2011 meltdown generated an estimated total of 880 tons of debris in the Nos. 1 to 3 reactors. TEPCO plans to begin the full-scale removal at the No. 3 reactor. The company said at a press conference that the details of work after debris retrieval are uncertain as the method of managing it has not yet been decided. The planned method for the retrieval is that the debris will be broken into smaller pieces using specialized equipment before being dropped to the bottom of the reactor containment vessel. It will then be taken out through an opening in the side. Filler material will be added to areas where there is debris that is highly radioactive or in an unstable condition to ensure safety.
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Latest: Tsunami hits Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's northern island of Hokkaido
A tsunami has hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's large northern island of Hokkaido after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia early Wednesday. Tsunami warning sirens blared in Honolulu as residents were urged to higher ground. 'Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,' the warning stated. The first waves in Hawaii were expected around 7 p.m. local time. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) above tide level were possible along some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. Waves of more than 3 meters (10 feet) were possible along some coastal areas of Russia and Ecuador. Here's the latest: Japanese nuclear power plants stop work Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coasts have suspended their work schedule in response to the tsunami alert, but so far no abnormalities have been reported. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, said about 4,000 workers are taking shelter at higher grounds on the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety. Its release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea is also temporarily suspended as a cautionary step. Russian scientists call the earthquake a 'unique event' The 8.8-magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit that area in Kamchatka since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In a statement posted on their Telegram channel, they called the earthquake a 'unique event.' They said the epicenter was near a recent earthquake that struck the peninsula on July 20. While the situation 'was under control,' they said there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month, and warned against visiting certain coastal areas. Oregon officials say small tsunami expected to reach the state's coastline The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected to reach parts of the state's coastline starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 centimeters). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Oregon is under a tsunami advisory, along with much of the U.S. West Coast spanning British Columbia, Washington state and California. The Philippines warns residents of possible tsunami waves Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) that could hit between 1:20pm to 2:40 pm (local time) and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,' Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press. First waves hit Hokkaido in Japan and Russia's Kuril Islands The Japan Meteorological Agency said a first tsunami wave of about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) reached Nemuro on the eastern coast of Hokkaido. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone.
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
The Latest: Tsunami hits Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's northern island of Hokkaido
A tsunami has hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands and Japan's large northern island of Hokkaido after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia early Wednesday. Tsunami warning sirens blared in Honolulu as residents were urged to higher ground. 'Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,' the warning stated. The first waves in Hawaii were expected around 7 p.m. local time. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) above tide level were possible along some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands. Waves of more than 3 meters (10 feet) were possible along some coastal areas of Russia and Ecuador. Here's the latest: Japanese nuclear power plants stop work Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coasts have suspended their work schedule in response to the tsunami alert, but so far no abnormalities have been reported. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, said about 4,000 workers are taking shelter at higher grounds on the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety. Its release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea is also temporarily suspended as a cautionary step. Russian scientists call the earthquake a 'unique event' The 8.8-magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit that area in Kamchatka since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In a statement posted on their Telegram channel, they called the earthquake a 'unique event.' They said the epicenter was near a recent earthquake that struck the peninsula on July 20. While the situation 'was under control,' they said there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month, and warned against visiting certain coastal areas. Oregon officials say small tsunami expected to reach the state's coastline The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected to reach parts of the state's coastline starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 centimeters). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Oregon is under a tsunami advisory, along with much of the U.S. West Coast spanning British Columbia, Washington state and California. The Philippines warns residents of possible tsunami waves Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) that could hit between 1:20pm to 2:40 pm (local time) and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. 'It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,' Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press. First waves hit Hokkaido in Japan and Russia's Kuril Islands The Japan Meteorological Agency said a first tsunami wave of about 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) reached Nemuro on the eastern coast of Hokkaido. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone.
Japan Today
18 hours 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
18 hours 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.
