Report: Japan's Fukushima reactor possibly melted twice

[News_Editor]

Report: Japan's Fukushima reactor possibly melted twice

2011-08-08 22:01:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- According to a study, the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant might have suffered a second nuclear meltdown, Kyodo news agency reported Monday.

According to the study, which was conducted by nuclear safety expert Fumiya Tanabe, fuel inside one of the plant's nuclear reactors might have breached the bottom of a pressure vessel after melting again.

The fuel is believed to have been kept cool at the bottom of the pressure vessel since a nuclear meltdown was confirmed, but the cooling method would need further review if most of the fuel at the No. 3 reactor has fallen into the containment vessel underneath the reactor, the study said.

The Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, had previously confirmed that nuclear meltdowns were assumed in the cores of the Nos. 1 and 3 reactors. Tepco had been keeping the reactors cooled and solidified at the bottom of each reactor pressure vessel by injecting water.

Last Thursday, Vice Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry Kazuo Matsunaga, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency chief Nobuaki Terasaka, and Agency for Natural Resources and Energy chief Tetsuhiro Hosono were sacked, as the government of Japan has been strongly criticized due to the handling of the electricity shortage, as well as the slow response into resolving issues directly related with the nuclear crisis.

Japanese Interior Minister Banri Kaieda, meanwhile, had previously stated that he would resign as a way to take responsibility of the situation. His ministry is in charge of energy policy, but despite his announcement, Kaieda has not been clear of when he would step down.

Japan's nuclear crisis began since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged on March 11 when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami devastated the country. The disaster disabled the cooling systems of the plant, and radioactive elements leaked into the sea and were later found in water, air and food products in some parts of Japan. Subsequent power shortages throughout the country have further complicated recovery efforts.

At least 23,482 people were killed, while 8,069 people remain missing. There are still more than 88,000 people who are staying in shelters in 21 prefectures around Japan.

According to the Japan Research Institute, the country's reconstruction efforts will cost between 14 trillion yen ($174.58 billion) and 18 trillion yen ($224.46 billion) in the upcoming 10 years, including 9.1 trillion yen ($113.47 billion) this year alone. Japan has already allocated a 4 trillion yen ($48.89 billion) emergency budget to finance the early phase of reconstruction efforts following the disaster.

On June 23, the government also announced a budget of 2 trillion yen ($24.8 billion) to be distributed to cover the massive compensation claims since the beginning of the disaster being faced by Tepco, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

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