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Showing Original Post only (View all)Japan postpones removal of Fukushima atomic fuel rods [View all]
Source: Euronews
The operators of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant have postponed the extremely complicated and difficult task of removing damaged atomic rods.
Kazuaki Matsui, the executive director of Japans Institute of Applied Energy said: Its very difficult to remove a spent rod because parts of the wall and the bottom of the reactor are all melted. Weve never had to deal with this before so that adds to the complication.
Meanwhile, decontamination workers say mismanagement is to blame for the delay of radiation removal work.
The inital plan called for the clean-up in the affected towns to be finished by March this year but the government now says the work will be delayed by as much as three years.
Read more: http://www.euronews.com/2013/11/15/japan-postpones-removal-of-fukushima-atomic-fuel-rods/
Earlier this month a delay of "a couple of weeks" was announced to allow for a "test" removal. At that time, by way of robot video, new leaks were discovered, as well as that one of the fuel assemblies was damaged and bent out of shape. The current delay is apparently indefinite. In other words, nobody's figured out what to do!
Postponed: Fuel removal attempt at Fukushima Unit 4 delayed, possibly for weeks Govt safety agency wants tests conducted, as another ~M5 quake hits Eastern Japan http://enenews.com/postponed-fuel-removal-attempt-at-fukushima-unit-4-delayed-possibly-for-weeks-govt-safety-agency-wants-tests-conducted[...]
The Japan Times, Nov 4, 2013: Tepco to conduct fuel removal test at reactor 4 [...] Tokyo Electric Power Co. will conduct a fuel removal test at the No. 4 reactor building of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 power plant, delaying the start of the actual operation by up to two weeks, sources close to the matter said Monday.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/11/04/national/tepco-to-conduct-fuel-removal-test-at-reactor-4/#.UocM2ydsuSq