Tokyo Electric Releases Revised "Roadmap to Recovery"

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources East Asia (Kofu-shi, Japan)--On Tuesday, May 17, Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated (TYO:9501) (TEPCO) (Tokyo) released a revised plan, called the "roadmap to recovery," regarding the cold shutdown of units 1 through 3 at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. The revised version came after TEPCO acknowledged that fuel in the reactor of Unit 1 suffered from a meltdown shortly after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck on March 11. Further data has revealed that the cooling system was initially damaged by the magnitude 6.0 shock wave, which originated from the 9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake that struck the area. The fuel assemblies in units 2 and 3 are thought to have suffered, or are currently suffering, meltdown as well.

Despite the new information, TEPCO is determined to remain on track with its roadmap, which is designed to have Fukushima Daiichi completely under control and in cold shutdown within six to nine months. The utility company is aiming for January 2012 at the latest. Step one of the roadmap has a mid-July target and involves establishing and maintaining stable, independent cooling of units 1 through 3. Unit 1 is considered to be stabilizing, with radiation levels on the downward trend, but units 2 and 3 are still of high concern. However, technicians and workers were able to enter Unit 2 to collect data this morning for the first time since the March 15 hydrogen explosion.

Nitrogen gas will continue to be injected into each of the reactors through the duration of step one. It is inert and helps prevent the buildup of hydrogen gas, which was responsible for explosions in March. Boric acid is also being added to the water used in cooling efforts. Boron, which is found in boric acid, is used in the control rods of reactors as a way to control the nuclear reaction by absorbing neutrons. TEPCO is also preparing to reuse standing water for cooling purposes and eventually plans to flood the pressure vessels of each of the reactors, an important step in achieving cold shutdown.

Debris removal around Fukushima Daiichi and inside the plant itself is expected to take at least six months, and TEPCO plans to continue using KuricoatC-720-G, an artificial resin produced by Kurita Water Industries Limited (TYO:6370) (Tokyo), as a dust inhibitor to prevent the further dispersal of radioactive particles. By the beginning of June, TEPCO is also expected to begin construction of containment covers for each unit. These covers are synthetic sheets specially strengthened to contain radiation and were first purposed by a consortium led by Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Limited (Hitachi, Japan).

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