The company in charge of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan stated on Tuesday that they have no additional safety concerns and do not anticipate any alterations to their plans for decommissioning the plant, despite a recent earthquake on January 1st that caused minor damage to another nuclear plant. This event has raised concerns and resulted in a regulatory body ordering a thorough assessment.

The magnitude 7.6 quake on New Year’s Day and dozens of strong aftershocks in Japan’s north-central region have left 222 people dead and 22 unaccounted for. The main quake also caused a small tsunami.

Hokuriku Electric Power Co. reported that two reactors at the Shika nuclear power plant, located on the western coast of the Noto peninsula which was affected by an earthquake, remained intact. However, the company did experience temporary power outages as a result of damaged transformers, as well as incidents of radioactive water spilling from spent fuel cooling pools and ground fissures. Fortunately, there were no reports of radiation being released beyond the plant’s boundaries.

Akira Ono, the leader of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings’ decommissioning team for Fukushima Daiichi, stated that currently there are no anticipated alterations to the plan due to the Noto earthquake.

According to him, TEPCO’s evaluation verified that all Fukushima Daiichi reactor buildings remain structurally sound, even in the event of an earthquake with 1.5 times the strength of the one that occurred in March 2011.

The earthquake and tsunami of magnitude 9.0 in that year caused severe damage to the power plant’s cooling systems, leading to three meltdowns, releasing radioactive substances into nearby areas and rendering some regions uninhabitable.

According to Ono, TEPCO’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the biggest in the world with seven reactors, is situated 118 kilometers (73 miles) east of the epicenter. Despite this proximity, there were no significant issues and no further safety precautions are needed. However, the utility company will wait for nuclear safety authorities to assess the effects of the Noto earthquakes.

He admitted that the earthquake on New Year’s Day was unexpected and served as a reminder for Fukushima Daiichi to be more prepared in managing potential dangers from equipment and facilities that are still in use at the site in the event of another major earthquake or tsunami.

TEPCO is currently focused on decommissioning the plant, a challenging endeavor that is estimated to span several decades. Ono stated that all structures constructed at the Fukushima Daiichi plant after the accident adhere to rigorous safety regulations mandated by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Ono stated that he does not anticipate any significant consequences for them as a result of the Noto earthquake.

During a recent meeting, the National Rifle Association requested an additional investigation, despite initial evaluations indicating that the Shika plant was not at immediate risk. Officials from the NRA advised the operator of the plant to remain aware of the potential for further damage to transformers and other crucial equipment as aftershocks persist.

The NRA’s decision demonstrates Japan’s increased caution towards safety hazards following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accidents.

After over a decade of being out of operation, TEPCO is eager to resume operations at their Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, which is currently their only functioning plant. This comes after the NRA lifted a ban that had been in place for over two years due to the company’s inadequate nuclear safety measures at the site.

Source: wral.com