TEPCO to cover reactor with polyester sheets

TEPCO to cover reactor with polyester sheets

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will begin to cover the No.1 reactor building with polyester sheets this month to prevent the dispersal of radioactive substances.

The buildings of the No.1, 3, and 4 reactors were severely damaged by explosions and radioactive elements are still being released into the atmosphere. There are fears that heavy rain may hamper the workers' activities and that the rainwater may become contaminated with radioactive materials.

To prevent these situations, Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, plans to enclose the reactor buildings with polyester sheets. The covering of the No.1 reactor building will begin later this month.

The roughly one-millimeter-thick sheets will be attached to the steel frames of the 54-meter-high building.

To minimize workers' exposure to radiation, TEPCO will use a special method with very few personnel. A large crane designed to ward off radiation will set up 62 pre-assembled parts at the reactor building.
TEPCO aims to complete the covering operation in late September.

The utility plans to carry out similar work at the No.3 and 4 reactor buildings.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 07:26 +0900 (JST)