Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Cleanup Need 40 Years

The Japanese government on Wednesday (21/12/2011), announced that the cleanup and dismantling of nuclear facilities Fukushima that exploded nine months ago, totaly would take 40 years.

Damage to nuclear facilities Fukushima, Japan after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. The Japanese government announced that the total cleanup Fukushima nuclear facilities would take 40 years. (Picture from:http://news.blogs.cnn.com/)

According to the Minister for Nuclear Crisis Goshi Hosono, dismantling three nuclear reactors in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had not been previously planned. "The whole project was previously not have thought would be done," says Hosono. However, Hosono says, it must do all that. "Although we'll get a lot of trouble while doing it," says Hosono explained.

Japanese Trade Minister Yukio Edano promised, the process will be done in the best possible without endangering the safety of workers and other parties. Therefore, for purposes of dismantling and cleaning it, it will reduce the number of robots. Because the radiation levels are very high in Fukushima. The plan, these robots were in operation to finish cleaning it Fukushima in 2014.

Minister Edano also promised to pay attention to aspects of safety and security of tens of thousands of residents living near nuclear power plants Fukushima. When the earthquake and tsunami incident last March, they had been evacuated to safe places in Japan. Japanese nuclear radiation disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami was the worst after the Chernobyl disaster in Russia in 1986.

Working procedures

Based on the draft cleanup Fukushima who had previously consulted with a number of experts and nuclear watchdog agency, the company Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power Co.) as the Fukushima nuclear power plant operator, will begin to get rid of all nuclear fuel rods that have been damaged by an explosion last nine. In the design of Tepco, the disposal of the fuel takes two years.

After this process is completed, Tepco will continue to dispose of the remains of the fuel rods that have been melted. Most of lelehannya now go to the bottom of the reactor container machine. Cleaning is what will take time for 25 years starting from now. At present, remains unknown location and condition of the fuel melted. After cleaning the fuel is completed, followed by the total dismantling of the reactor compartment at Fukushima nuclear power plant. This process will take 5 to 10 years, so the total time required is 40 years.

Because the radiation levels in the nuclear complex Fukhusima was very high, the project work will be done using robots and advanced technology. In this case, the use of technology will make the cleanup and dismantling it can be done remotely. Authorities said the Japanese government, the needs of these robots will be met by 2013. They will begin to dismantle the reactor building in 2014.

The duration of this project will reportedly be financially burdensome Tepco. According to the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Commerce, the total cost for the project can be announced yet because it is still counted. They assert, for 40-year project that will not be delayed simply because of cost issues. *** [YAHOO NEWS | GUARDIAN | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 22122011]