Blog Post: 7.4 Magnitude Aftershock Rocks Fukushima Daiichi, Puts Another Japanese Nuclear Plant on Backup Power
Another large earthquake and tsunami struck northern Japan Thursday, briefly interrupting efforts to control reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and cutting off much of the external power to a second nuclear power station.
At Fukushima Daiichi, the 7.4 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami warning caused workers to evacuate. They returned to work soon after, though, and reports indicate that radiation levels and the condition of the plant’s reactors were unchanged. Officials also reported that there is no evidence that highly radioactive water in pits and tunnels near the reactors overflowed after the quake.
North of Fukushima Daiichi along Japan’s east coast, the Onagawa nuclear plant owned by Tohoku Electric Power Co. lost some of its power from the external grid after the tremor. Although it did not damage equipment, Bloomberg reported that a tsunami wave reached within a meter of the plant’s base, which is more than 14 meters above sea level. Its reactors have been out of operation since the magnitude 9 quake March 11, and Japanese regulators said the plant is stable as backup generators circulate water in spent fuel tanks.
At Fukushima, nitrogen injection into the containment of unit 1 continues in an effort to prevent a potentially explosive buildup of hydrogen. Pressure in the containment vessel has risen as expected, according to plant owner Tokyo Electric Power Co.
Japan’s Nikkei business newspaper reported Thursday that Toshiba subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co., Babcock & Wilcox and Shaw Group have submitted a proposal to TEPCO and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to clean up and decommission the plant once it is brought under control. The firms helped with cleanup after the Three Mile Island accident, and their plan calls for carefully demolishing buildings, monitoring radiation levels and removing debris using robots.
Business media have suggested that GE-Hitachi is also expected to submit a proposal to decommission the plant.
(Photo: Onagawa nuclear plant. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
At Fukushima Daiichi, the 7.4 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami warning caused workers to evacuate. They returned to work soon after, though, and reports indicate that radiation levels and the condition of the plant’s reactors were unchanged. Officials also reported that there is no evidence that highly radioactive water in pits and tunnels near the reactors overflowed after the quake.North of Fukushima Daiichi along Japan’s east coast, the Onagawa nuclear plant owned by Tohoku Electric Power Co. lost some of its power from the external grid after the tremor. Although it did not damage equipment, Bloomberg reported that a tsunami wave reached within a meter of the plant’s base, which is more than 14 meters above sea level. Its reactors have been out of operation since the magnitude 9 quake March 11, and Japanese regulators said the plant is stable as backup generators circulate water in spent fuel tanks.
At Fukushima, nitrogen injection into the containment of unit 1 continues in an effort to prevent a potentially explosive buildup of hydrogen. Pressure in the containment vessel has risen as expected, according to plant owner Tokyo Electric Power Co.
Japan’s Nikkei business newspaper reported Thursday that Toshiba subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co., Babcock & Wilcox and Shaw Group have submitted a proposal to TEPCO and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to clean up and decommission the plant once it is brought under control. The firms helped with cleanup after the Three Mile Island accident, and their plan calls for carefully demolishing buildings, monitoring radiation levels and removing debris using robots.
Business media have suggested that GE-Hitachi is also expected to submit a proposal to decommission the plant.
(Photo: Onagawa nuclear plant. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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