Due to the Tohoku-Chihou-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake which occurred on March
11, 2011, TEPCO's facilities including our nuclear power stations have been
severely damaged. We deeply apologize for the anxiety and inconvenience
caused.
With regard to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, on
April 17, 2011, we have compiled the roadmap towards restoration from the
accident and on July 19 we accomplished the Step1 target "Radiation dose
is in steady decline". Then on December 16 we confirmed the accomplishment
of the Step 2 target "Release of radioactive materials is under control
and radiation doses are being significantly held down".
In addition, on December 21, 2011, we have compiled the "Mid-to-long-Term
Roadmap toward the Decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Units
1-4, TEPCO".
In addition to the maintenance of the plant's stable condition, we will
implement Mid-to-Long Term countermeasures towards the decommissioning of
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Units 1-4 to enable evacuees to return to
their homes as soon as possible and reduce the anxiety of the people in
Fukushima and the whole nation as soon as possible.
Below is the status of TEPCO's major facilities.
* Updates since the previous press release underlined.
[Nuclear Power Station]
· Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: Unit 1 to 3: shut down due to
the earthquake
(Units 4 to 6: outage due to regular inspections)
* Since December 22, 2011, the atmospheric temperatures at point C of
Unit 1 Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) monitored by the Containment
Atmospheric Monitoring System had risen (the atmospheric temperature
of the PCV on December 22 was approx. 38°C, at 7 pm on December 27 was
approx. 49°C). The other temperatures had not risen, so we conducted a
survey checking the reliability of the meters from 9 am to 10 am on
December 28, and we confirmed that there are no problems. From 11:00am
to 12:15pm on the same day, we adjusted the volume of Nitrogen
injection, from approx. 8 m3/h to approx.18 m3/h, and emission of the
gas management system, from approx. 23 m3/h to approx.30 m3/h, in order
to identify the cause by monitoring the system with the same injection
and emission volume as before December 22. The temperature went up to
approx. 54.6°C at 6 pm on December 28 and fell to approx. 42.4°C at
5:00 am on January 4, 2012. Temperatures at other two points also
indicated slight increases but are currently in the stable status.
Point D: (Maximum) approx. 35.8°C at 5:00 pm on December 29, 2011 →
approx. 32.2°C at 5:00 am on January 4, 2012.
Point E: (Maximum) approx. 40.0°C at 5:00 pm on December 29, 2011 →
approx. 35.2°C at 5:00 am on January 4, 2012.
We will continuously conduct the survey for the cause of temperature
increase and surveillance of the plant.
* At 9:13 am on January 4, 2012, we suspended the second cesium
adsorption apparatus due to reverse cleaning of the filters because
the amount of disposal water of the second cesium adsorption apparatus
decreased generally since the start of operation on December 27, 2011.
* At 9:36 am on January 4, 2012, we adjusted the volume of water
injected into the reactor of Unit 2 through reactor spray system from
approx. 7.2m3/h to approx. 8.2m3/h in order to decrease reactor
temperature for containment monitoring.
* At 9:56 am on January 4, 2012, we restarted to operate the alternative
cooling system of spent fuel pool. After restarting, we will implement
flushing of strainer with consideration of the suction pressure of the
primary system circulating pump.
* At 10:00 am on January 4, 2012, we started to transfer accumulated
water from the basement of turbine building of Unit 6 to temporary tank.
· Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station:
Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to the earthquake
· Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station: Units 5, 6: under normal
operation
(Units 1 to 4 and 7: outage due to regular inspections)
[Thermal Power Station]
· Power supply has returned to normal and facilities damaged by the
earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner.
[Hydro Power Station]
· Power supply has returned to normal and facilities damaged by the
earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner.
[Impacts on Transmission Facilities]
· Power supply has returned to normal and facilities damaged by the
earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner.
[Impacts on Power Supply and Demand Balance]
This winter, there will be some minus factors such as the regular
inspection of Unit 5 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station. On the
other hand, there will be several plus factors such as the recovery of
the common thermal power stations which suffered the earthquake. As a
result, we expect to secure 54.9 GW (at the end of December), 54.6 GW (at
the end of January), 53.7 GW (at the end of February) supply power.
Compared to the maximum demand in the last winter, which is 51.5 GW, we
will have 2.2 - 3.4 GW generation reserve margin.
We expect to maintain stable power supply this winter, however, as there
remains possibilities of unplanned shutdowns at our power stations and
growth in the demand according to the rapid change in the temperature, we
would like to ask your reasonable effort to save electricity.
We will continue to make our efforts to maintain stable operation and
maintenance of the power facilities in order to "prevent in principle"
the planned blackouts and secure power supply.
Appendix: Past Progress (As of 10:00 am, January 4, 2012) (PDF 264KB)
Appendix: Past Progress (From March 11, 2011 to July 31, 2011) (PDF 225KB)
* Revised past progress