July 18, 2012

Jul 18, 2012 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The temperatures across Japan are rising quickly, with Tuesday’s highs ranging from 94oF to 105oF. As a result, the electrical power situation in the country approaches then point of no return. Even with the full power addition of Oi unit #3, power reserves have dropped dramatically. For example, last week Tepco announced that demand was but 85% of available capacity. On Tuesday, Tepco said they are at 91% of capacity, with but 9% in reserve to handle increased demand. They are not alone. Chubu Electric says they are at 93% of available capacity. At 95%, government mandated power reductions will be instituted. Rolling blackouts now seem to be a real possibility. On Wednesday evening, Oi unit #4 was restarted, will begin producing electricity on Saturday and be at full output by next Wednesday. It is hoped this will avert the worst. (NHK World; Kyodo News)
  • Sunday evening, two alarms sounded at Oi unit #4. Neither was anything to be worried about. One was for a slightly high pressure in a pure water tank, and the other a faulty electrical connection on support equipment for one of the two emergency diesel generators. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the incidents won’t impact the restart schedule because the rise in pressure was marginal and the emergency generator will be able to function normally should it be needed. (Japan Times)
  • Two spent fuel bundles have been removed from F. Daiichi unit #4 spent fuel pool. Both bundles are new, have never been used inside the reactor, and have no fission products in them. Thus, they have minimal radioactivity. Japanese TV reports have been showing a large crane removing the 4 meter long (~13 feet) bundles for inspection. After ascertaining the condition of the bundles, they will be placed inside a metal storage container where they will remain until August. At that point, they will be inspected to insure that such storage will not cause damage or corrosion. Once the test period is completed, preparations will begin for the systematic and safe removal of the remaining 1,533 fuel bundles currently in the pool. (NHK World)
  • The Tokyo government is now under fire from antinuclear groups for their handling of the public hearings earlier this week. “This gives the impression that they haven’t learned anything,” said Koichi Nakano, a professor at Sophia University, after news that power company employees were among the few chosen to voice their opinions on potential changes to national energy policy after Fukushima. Sunday’s first hearing witnessed a Tepco employee calling for at least 15% of the future energy mix to come from nuclear. On Monday, a Chubu Electric employee called for the same option, adding, “Not one single person died as a result of radiation from the (Fukushima) accident.” The government is considering three options for its future energy portfolio—reduce nuclear power’s role to zero as soon as possible, aim at a 15% share by 2030, and seek a 20-25% share by the same date. Public hearings are being held around the country, with nine representatives chosen by lottery to speak at each event – three for each of the options. The public can also comment via the internet or fax. The inclusion of the utility employees has outraged nuclear critics, who are now calling for Prime Minister Noda and his political party (DPJ) to be voted out of office. It doesn’t matter that both employees are members of the public with every right to voice how they feel. The issue could open the door for new political parties—such as the one led by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto – which are springing up all over Japan. (Japan Today)
  • The news media continues to broadcast ramifications of Monday’s anti-nuclear rally in Tokyo. Chief organizer, Nobel laureate Kenzaburo Oe says, “I believe we’ll be able to break free from the fear and indignity caused by the existence of nuclear power plants, and to live freely.” His main collaborator, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto adds, “We should never jeopardize this beautiful land of Japan and the lives of our children, who are the future of this country, just for the sake of electricity.” Fukushima resort owner Setsuo Fujita believes the Tokyo government is out of touch with the people they govern, and said, “I want Prime Minister [Yoshihiko] Noda to hear what the people here today are saying.” To the contrary, PM Noda says he is taking all input to heart, including those opposed to nuclear energy. He feels the emotional effect spawned by public fear has yet to subside so that a rational national decision can be made, “It’s only been a year and four months since the crisis began at TEPCO’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. I believe many people have mixed feelings” toward maintaining nuclear power plants. Noda insists the decision to recently resume operations at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture was correct. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
  • The town of Iitate, inside the northwest evacuation corridor, has been divided into three zones. The first new zone positively affects about 30% of the evacuees because the evacuation order will be lifted, allowing businesses to resume and city services to be re-instituted. The other 70 percent will be collectively known as the “residency control area,” where people will be allowed to make temporary visits to their homes in order to prepare for eventually going home. Only the 70 residences in the Nagadoro district will be off-limits to everyone for approximately five years. (Japan Times) The zone where the evacuation order is to be lifted holds about 210 residences, home to about 800 evacuees. The resident-restricted zone contains 1,660 homes for about 2,900 citizens. Before they can return home permanently, decontamination procedures need to be completed, which could take until 2014. Iitate is the fourth town to be re-zoned. The three previous are Kawauchi, Tamura, and Minamisoma, where residents are preparing to return home. However, how many citizens will actually repopulate is a mystery.  Nearly 58% of the polled evacuees say they plan on returning. The rest either don’t know what they will do or have decided to make their homes elsewhere. Of note, 54% of the women of child-bearing age say they will not return because of their fear of radiation harming their babies. (Mainichi Shimbun)