May 28, 2015

May 28, 2015 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Tepco says they have finished Cesium and Strontium removal from all stored waters. This is a major milestone for the wastewater situation at Fukushima Daiichi.  Of the 620,000 tons currently in storage tanks, 440,000 have been run through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) and Cesium removal filters. The remaining 180,000 tons have been processed by the Cesium filters and the new Strontium removal system, but will need to be run through ALPS. At its peak, the untreated volume was more than 360,000 tons, but the operation of the multi-stage decontamination system has lowered the amount to less than 9,000 tons. The remaining 9,000 tons are in bolted-together storage tanks that are nearly empty and routine pumping cannot reach the liquid. As the tanks are dismantled, the contaminated water will be carefully removed and treated. Tepco had voiced doubts about decontaminating all of the stored liquid by May 31 because of 20,000 tons of salt water used to cool the damaged cores in March of 2011. However, the processing of the salty water has gone better than expected. Although nearly 450,000 tons have been totally processed, the residual Tritium in the liquid must be dealt with. Although biologically harmless, the isotope is detectible and for that reason unacceptable to Northeast Japan’s fishing industry because of widespread consumer fears. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2015/1251076_6844.html — http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/27/national/tepco-says-radioactive-water-fukushima-1-tanks-filtered/#.VWW8CqMw8dU — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201505260041
  • The dismantling of leak-prone wastewater storage tanks has begun. A total of 40 tanks are scheduled for the first round of the project. The tanks are “flange-type”, with seams between the sections bolted together. This type of tank was used in the early stages of the storage of waters building up in the basements of units #1 through #4 turbine buildings. However, substantial leaks from at least two of the tanks resulted in Tepco abandoning the flange-type construction and shifting to the current type where seams are firmly welded. The two tank groups being handled first are where leaks occurred. The groups are dubbed H1 and H2. Because the interior of the tanks are contaminated and contain some water in the bottom that pumping cannot remove, the dismantlement process will be slow. The twelve H1 tanks will not be finished until the end of September and the 28 tanks in H2 won’t be done until late January of 2016. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/handouts/2015/images/handouts_150527_01-e.pdf
  • Reuters claims that most Japanese companies are not keen on Tokyo’s policy goal for nuclear. PM Abe’s regime is pointing to nuclear garnering 20-22% of the electricity production for Japan by 2030. In a Reuters poll sent to 481 companies, fourteen percent of the 230 respondents said it will probably be less than 10%, a quarter said it would be between 10 and 14%, and twenty nine percent said it would be 15-19%. It seems the greatest percentage (32%) believe Tokyo’s nuclear goal is possible. A doubting machinery company manager said, “Some nuclear power stations may resume operations, but it will be difficult to expect as many restarts as the government and utilities want,” which Reuters says is due to last year’s poll which showed that as few as one-third of the idled nukes might pass Japan’s new, tougher safety standards and supply about 10% of Japan’s grid needs. Other doubters point to seismic problems, legal issues, and local political hurdles that could keep nukes from restarting. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/24/japan-companies-nuclear-idUSL3N0YB2PR20150524?feedType=RSS&feedName=utilitiesSector
  • The Industry Ministry says nuclear should be at least 20% of the nation’s electricity. The ministry believes that without nuclear, energy costs for corporations and households will not be manageable. The most costly of other sources are wind and solar. Even though they will be expensive, the ministry says solar should have 7% contribution and wind 17% of the electricity mix. Any more than that will be financially unwieldy. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201505270040
  • The restarts for Sendai units 1 and 2 surmount another hurdle. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved the station’s emergency plans. Owner Kyushu Electric Power Company now has all approvals necessary for restart. Plant staff will be able to load nuclear fuel in unit #1 after the NRA finishes technical inspections and monitors a station emergency drill. Although NRA inspections have been tediously slow, Kyushu Electric still plans on June fuel loading and mid-to-late summer restart of unit #1. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150527_26.html
  • A Kyoto volcano expert says pyroclastic flows are not a threat to Sendai station. The concern was whether or not an eruption of Aira Caldera, 50 kilometers away, could reach the nukes and destroy them. However, Kyoto Professor Kazuhiro Ishihara said pyroclastic flow should not travel as far as Sendai station.  But, he questioned “whether workers can remain at the plant to ensure the safe operations of the reactors if a volcano eruption effectively cuts off lifelines and residents start to evacuate, even if the pyroclastic flows do not reach the site.” He also criticized Kyushu Electric’s plans to consult volcanic experts on whether or not to stop operations at Sendai if there are signs of the caldera erupting. http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2015052700745