Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant close to expected ‘cold shutdown’ after progressive repairs

Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant close to expected ‘cold shutdown’ after progressive repairs

The devastated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was allowed to visit by a selected group of reporters, after the plant was declared to be under stable conditions.

The Japanese nuclear plant is sited about 240 kilometres northeast of Tokyo. It is operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

The plant was damaged during the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. The quake left the country with heavy damages to infrastructure and economy. The Japanese nation faced severe aftermath of the earthquake.

Three reactors in the nuclear plant were over heated due to the damage occurred to the cooling systems. The nuclear fuel was heated and the spread of radiation was increased to dangerous levels.

Since the earthquake the residential area around the plant was evacuated due to radiation risks. The officials at the plant expressed their satisfaction over the recovery process made to cool down the nuclear fuel.

The Chief of the Daiichi plant, Masao Yoshida said, "From the data at the plant that I have seen, there is no doubt that the reactors have been stabilised.”

Japan’s environment and nuclear crisis minister, Goshii Hosono said, "Every time I come back, I feel conditions have improved. This is due to your hard work.”

As the journalists commuted around the plant’s wrecked building, the site spoke about the affects of disaster.

The premises still housed the wreckage of crumpled trucks, twisted metal fences and damaged huge water tanks. The smaller office buildings were left abandoned when the tsunami hit the area.

The journalists were instructed to stay on the bus as it toured through the plant. They were also not allowed to get close to the reactors as precautions.

However the group was suited with protective suits, double layer of gloves and plastic boots to avoid any kind of mishap.

 The meltdown of the nuclear fuel is controlled with the cooling process. It is expected as the progress proceeds the plant will be taken to point where a ‘cold shutdown’ is possible. It is the worst nuclear incident since the Chernobyl, 25years ago.

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Posted by Samer Ahmed on Nov 12 2011. Filed under World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry