Plan to control nuclear crisis in 9 months
Source: Agencies |
April 18, 2011, Monday
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THE operator of Japan's crippled nuclear power plant yesterday announced a plan to bring the crisis under control within six to nine months and allow some evacuated residents to return to their homes.
But officials stressed the roadmap for ending the crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was only a first step, that conditions remain unstable, and that it remains unclear when the government will let evacuees go back.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, facing pressure both at home and abroad to resolve Japan's nuclear power accident, directed Tokyo Electric Power Co to draw up the plan.
"Given the conditions now, this is best that it could do," said Hidehiko Nishiyama of the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. "But it cannot be said that the reactor has stabilized."
The roadmap, presented by Tsunehisa Katsumata, TEPCO's chairman, includes plans to cover the damaged reactor buildings to contain radiation and eventually remove the fuel.
"We sincerely apologize for causing troubles," Katsumata said. "We are doing our utmost to prevent the crisis from further worsening."
The company is focusing first on cooling the reactors and spent fuel pools and reducing the level of leaking radiation, decontaminating water that has become radioactive, reducing the amount of radiation released into the atmosphere and soil, and lowering radiation levels in the evacuation area, he said.
In the next stage, it aims to control the release of radioactive materials, achieve a cold shutdown of the reactors and temporarily cover the reactor buildings, Katsumata said.
He said he was considering stepping down because of the crisis. "I feel very responsible," he said.
Trade Minister Banri Kaieda said some evacuees might be able to return home within six to nine months.
He urged TEPCO to beat that deadline, though it is clear the full cleanup will take years.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed admiration and sympathy for the Japanese as she visited Tokyo yesterday.
Clinton met with Kan, and had tea with the emperor and empress, who had been visiting evacuation centers to show their sympathy and support for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which have left nearly 28,000 people dead or missing.
"We pledge our steadfast support for you and your future recovery. We are very confident that Japan will demonstrate the resilience that we have seen during this crisis in the months ahead," Clinton said.
Government officials fanned out across affected areas over the weekend seeking to explain evacuation decisions and calm nerves. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano met with the governor of Fukushima, who had vigorously protested the predicament the nuclear crisis poses for his prefecture. "I told the governor that the government will do everything it can to prevent the crisis from worsening," Edano said.
Officials reported on Saturday that radioactivity had again risen sharply in seawater near the plant, signaling the possibility of new leaks.
But officials stressed the roadmap for ending the crisis at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was only a first step, that conditions remain unstable, and that it remains unclear when the government will let evacuees go back.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, facing pressure both at home and abroad to resolve Japan's nuclear power accident, directed Tokyo Electric Power Co to draw up the plan.
"Given the conditions now, this is best that it could do," said Hidehiko Nishiyama of the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. "But it cannot be said that the reactor has stabilized."
The roadmap, presented by Tsunehisa Katsumata, TEPCO's chairman, includes plans to cover the damaged reactor buildings to contain radiation and eventually remove the fuel.
"We sincerely apologize for causing troubles," Katsumata said. "We are doing our utmost to prevent the crisis from further worsening."
The company is focusing first on cooling the reactors and spent fuel pools and reducing the level of leaking radiation, decontaminating water that has become radioactive, reducing the amount of radiation released into the atmosphere and soil, and lowering radiation levels in the evacuation area, he said.
In the next stage, it aims to control the release of radioactive materials, achieve a cold shutdown of the reactors and temporarily cover the reactor buildings, Katsumata said.
He said he was considering stepping down because of the crisis. "I feel very responsible," he said.
Trade Minister Banri Kaieda said some evacuees might be able to return home within six to nine months.
He urged TEPCO to beat that deadline, though it is clear the full cleanup will take years.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed admiration and sympathy for the Japanese as she visited Tokyo yesterday.
Clinton met with Kan, and had tea with the emperor and empress, who had been visiting evacuation centers to show their sympathy and support for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which have left nearly 28,000 people dead or missing.
"We pledge our steadfast support for you and your future recovery. We are very confident that Japan will demonstrate the resilience that we have seen during this crisis in the months ahead," Clinton said.
Government officials fanned out across affected areas over the weekend seeking to explain evacuation decisions and calm nerves. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano met with the governor of Fukushima, who had vigorously protested the predicament the nuclear crisis poses for his prefecture. "I told the governor that the government will do everything it can to prevent the crisis from worsening," Edano said.
Officials reported on Saturday that radioactivity had again risen sharply in seawater near the plant, signaling the possibility of new leaks.
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