search



Corporate Information

 
Press Release (Mar 22,2011)
Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 6:00 PM Mar 22nd)
*new items are underlined 
All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down. 
Unit 1(Shut down) 
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the explosive sound and white smoke
  were confirmed after the big quake occurred at 3:36PM Mar 12th. It was
  assumed to be hydrogen explosion.
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel. 
Unit 2 (Shut down) 
- Reactor has been shut down and the level of reactor coolant had dropped
  and the reactor pressure had increased because the Reactor Core 
  Isolation Cooling System stopped. Measures were taken to lower 
  the pressure within the Reactor Containment Vessel and to inject sea
  water into the Reactor while carefully confirming safety. The level of
  reactor coolant and the pressure of the Reactor resumed. 
- At approximately 6:00AM on March 15th, 2011, an abnormal noise began
  emanating from nearby Pressure Suppression Chamber and the pressure 
  within this chamber decreased. 
- We completed receiving electricity from the external transmission line
  up to the auxiliary transformer. We installed the power cable from 
  the transformer to the temporary power panel. At 3: 46 PM, March 20th,
  we started energizing the load-side power panel.
- At 6:20 on March 21st, white smoke was confirmed arising from the top
  of the reactor building. As of 7:11 am on March 22nd, smoke decreased
  to the level where we can hardly confirm
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel.
Unit 3 (Shut down) 
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the explosive sound and white
  smoke were confirmed at 11:01AM Mar 14th. It was assumed to be hydrogen
  explosion.
- At 8:30AM on March 16th, fog like steam was confirmed arising from 
  the reactor building.
- At approximately 6:15AM on March 17th the pressure of the Suppression
  Chamber has temporarily increased. We were preparing to implement
  a measurement to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel 
  (partial discharge of air containing radioactive material to outside) 
  in order to fully secure safety. However, at present, it is not
  a situation to take a measure immediately to discharge air containing
  radioactive material to outside now. We will continue to monitor
  the status of the pressure of the reactor containment vessel.
- We are working on receiving external power supply to Units 3 and 4.
- At approximately 4:00 pm, March 21st, light gray smoke was confirmed
  arising from the floor roof of the Unit 3 building. On March 22nd,
  the color of smoke changed to somewhat white and it is slowly
  dissipating.
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel. 
Unit 4 (outage due to regular inspection) 
- Reactor has been shut down. However, at approximately 6AM on 
  March 15th. We have confirmed the explosive sound and the sustained
  damage around the 5th floor rooftop area of the Nuclear Reactor
  Building.
- On March 15th and 16th, we respectively confirmed the outbreak of fire
  at the 4th floor of the northwestern part of the Nuclear Reactor
  Building. We immediately reported this matter to the fire department
  and the related authorities. TEPCO employees confirmed that each fire
  had already died down by itself. 
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened. 
Unit 5 (outage due to regular inspection) 
- Reactor has been shut down and the sufficient level of reactor coolant
  to ensure safety is maintained.
- At 5 AM, March 19th, we started the Residual Heat Removal System Pump
  (C ) in order to cool the spent fuel pool.
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened.
- At 2:30 PM, March 20th, the reactor achieved reactor cold shutdown. 
Unit 6 (outage due to regular inspection) 
- Reactor has been shut down and the sufficient level of reactor coolant
  to ensure safety is maintained.
- We are working on receiving external power supply to Units 5 and 6. 
  We completed the repair work on the emergency diesel generator (A).
- At 10:14 pm, March 19th, we started the Residual Heat Removal System
  Pump (B ) of Unit 6 in order to cool the spent fuel pool.
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened.
- At 7:27 PM, March 20th, the reactor achieved reactor cold shutdown. 
Cooling of spent fuel pools 
- In Unit 3, water discharge by Self-Defense Force's helicopters was
  conducted from 9:48 AM in the morning on March 17th. Also water
  discharge by the riot police's high-pressure water cannon trucks and 
  Self-Defense Force's fire engines was conducted from 7PM on March 17th
  and finished at 8:09PM.
- In Unit 3, water discharge by Self-Defense Force's fire engines and 
  US army's fire engines was conducted from 2 PM and completed
  a quarter to 3 PM.
- After that, from 0:30 AM, Mar 19th, water discharge by Tokyo Fire 
  Department's Hyper Rescue was conducted to Unit 3 and completed at 
  1:10 AM. At around 2:10PM, water discharge by Tokyo Fire Department's
  Hyper Rescue to Unit 3 was conducted once again. At approximately 
  3:40 am, they had finished water discharge.
- At approximately 8:21 am, March 20th, water discharge to Unit 4 by
  fire engine has started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and
  finished at approximately 9:40 am. At approximately 6:45 pm, March 20th
  water discharge to Unit 4 by Self-Defense's water cannon trucks was
  conducted and finished at approximately 7:45 pm.
- From 3: 05 PM to 5: 20 PM on March 20th, 40 tons of seawater was
  injected into Unit 2 by TEPCO employees.
- From 9:30 PM on March 20th, water discharge by Tokyo Fire Department's
  Hyper Rescue was conducted to Unit 3 and completed at approximately 
  4:00 AM today.
- At approximately 6:30 AM today,, water discharge to Unit 4 was started 
  by Self-Defense Force's fire engines and US army's fire engines and
  was finished at approximately 8:40 AM. 
- From 4:07 PM on March 22nd, 40 tons of seawater was injected into 
 Unit 2 by TEPCO employees. 
- From 3:10 PM on March 22nd, water discharge into Unit 3 by Tokyo Fire 
 Department's Hyper Rescue was conducted and completed at approximately 
 3:59 PM today. From 5:17 PM on March 22nd, water discharge into Unit 4 
 from the concrete pumping vehicle was conducted. 
- We are considering further water discharge at other units and others
  subject to the conditions of spent fuel pools. 
Casualty 
- 2 workers of cooperative firm were injured at the occurrence of
  the earthquake, and were transported to the hospital on March 11th.
- 4 workers were injured and transported to the hospital after explosive
  sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 1on March 11th.
- Presence of 2 TEPCO employees at the site is not confirmed on March 11th.
- 1 TEPCO employee who was not able to stand by his own holding left
  chest with his hand, was transported to the hospital by an ambulance on
  March 12th.
- 1 subcontract worker at the key earthquake-proof building was
  unconscious and transported to the hospital by an ambulance on
  March 12th.
- The radiation exposure of 1 TEPCO employee, who was working inside
  the reactor building, exceeded 100mSv and he was transported to
  the hospital on March 12th.
- 2 TEPCO employees felt bad during their operation in the central
  control rooms of Unit 1 and 2 while wearing full masks, and were
  transferred to Fukushima Daini Power Station for consultation with
  a medical advisor on March 13th.
- 11 workers were injured and transported to Fukushima Daini Nuclear
  Power Station etc. after explosive sound and white smoke were confirmed
  around the Unit 3.One of the workers was transported to the FUKUSHIMA 
  Medical University Hospital on March 14th. 
Others 
- We measured radioactive materials (iodine etc.) inside of the nuclear
  power station area (outdoor) by monitoring car and confirmed that
  radioactive materials level is getting higher than ordinary level.
  As listed below, we have determined that specific incidents stipulated
  in article 15, clause 1 of Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear
  Emergency Preparedness (Abnormal increase in radiation dose measured
  at site boundary) have occurred.
· Determined at 4:17 PM Mar 12th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
· Determined at 8:56 AM Mar 13th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
· Determined at 2:15 PM Mar 13th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
· Determined at 3:50 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 6 )
· Determined at 4:15 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 2 ) 
· Determined at 9:27 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 3 ) 
· Determined at 9:37 PM Mar 14th (Around main entrance ) 
· Determined at 6:51 AM Mar 15th (Around main entrance ) 
· Determined at 8:11 AM Mar 15th (Around main entrance ) 
· Determined at 4:17 PM Mar 15th (Around main entrance ) 
· Determined at 11:05 PM Mar 15th (Around main entrance )
· Determined at 8:58 AM Mar 19th (Around MP5)
From now on, if the measured figure fluctuates and goes above and below
500 micro Sv/h, we deem that as the continuous same event and will not
regard that as a new specific incidents stipulated in article 15,
clause 1 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency
Preparedness (Abnormal increase in radiation dose measured at site
boundary) has occurred. In the interim, if we measure a manifestly
abnormal figure and it is evident that the event is not the continuous
same event, we will determine and notify.

- The national government has instructed evacuation for those local
  residents within 20km radius of the periphery and evacuation to inside
  for those residents from 20km to 30km radius of the periphery, because
  it's possible that radioactive materials are discharged.
- At approximately 10AM on March 15th, we observed 400mSv/h at the inland
  side of the Unit 3 reactor building and 100mSv/h at the inland side of 
  the Unit 4 reactor building.
- We checked the status of spent fuel in the common pool, and confirmed
  that the water level secured. We are planning to conduct a detailed
  inspection. 
- We found no signs of abnormal situation for the casks by visual
  observation during the patrol activity. A detailed inspection is
  under preparation.
- At Units 5 and 6, in order to prevent hydrogen gas from accumulating
  within the buildings, we have made three holes on the roof of
  the reactor building for each unit.
- In total 12 fire engines are lent for the water discharge to the spent
  fuel pools and water injection to the nuclear reactors by various
  regional fire departments* as well as Tokyo Fire Department.
*: Koriyama Fire Department, Iwaki Fire Brigade Headquarters,
   Fire Headquarters of Sukagawa District Wide Area Fire-fighting 
   Association, Yonezawa City Fire Headquarters, Utsunomiya City Fire
   Headquarters, Fire Headquarters of Aizu-Wakamatsu wide area municipal
   association, Saitama City Fire Bureau, and Niigata City Fire Bureau.
- On March 21st and 22nd, we detected cobalt, iodine and cesium from
  the seawater around discharge canal of Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- We will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety and to
  continue monitoring the surrounding environment around
  the Power Station. 
back to page top


to TOP