search



Corporate Information

 
Press Release (Feb 28,2012)
Status of TEPCO's Facilities and its services after the Tohoku-Chihou-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake (as of 10:00 am, February 28)
  
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. 
 
* The updates are 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 before the earthquake) 
 
  - With regard to the water injection volume for Unit 2 reactor, which 
    was increased with temperature figure raising, we have gradually 
    adjusted it to the original volume before temperature increasing (Feed 
    water system: approx. 3.0m3/h, core spray system: approx. 6.0m3/h). 
    During our observing the plant parameter after the decreasing the flow 
    rate of feed water system on February 22, we found that one thermometer 
    in the lower part of the RPV indicated the different movement from 
    others. From 0:21 pm to 2:48 pm on February 23, we investigated the 
    concerned device. As the result of the measurement of DC resistance, 
    we found no breaking wire and availability of the thermometer. But we 
    confirmed that the DC resistance of it became higher than the previous 
    measurement test data. We will evaluate the soundness of the concerned 
    device and examine correspondence in future. We make sure no re- 
    criticality state because there were no significant changes at the 
    monitoring post and as the result of the sampling for the Gas Control 
    System of the Unit 2, we confirmed that the concentration of Xe-135 
    was below the detectible limit. 
    · At 5:00 am on February 28, the temperature of the lower part of the 
      RPV (top of the lower head 135°) : approx. 44.3 °C 
    (Reference) 
    · At 5:00 am on February 28, the temperature of the lower part of the 
      RPV (top of the lower head 270°) : approx. 40.8 °C 
  - At 10:00 am on February 27, we start transfer of the accumulated water 
    from the basement of Turbine Building of Unit 6 to the temporary tank. 
    At 4:00 pm on the same day, we stopped transfer. At 10:00 am on February 
    28, we restarted the transfer. 
  - As we confirmed that high radioactivity contaminated water is 
    accumulating in the pit of water circulating pump discharge valve of 
    unit 3 pump chamber at the inspection of trench etc. conducted on 
    January 19, we started to transferring accumulated water from the pit 
    to the basement of unit 2 turbine building at 10:13 am, February 27. 
    At 3:34 pm on the same day, we stopped transfer. At 8:51 am on February 
    28, we restarted the transfer. 
  - At 1:26 pm, on February 27, we started injecting hydrazine [corrosion 
    inhibitor] into unit 2 spent fuel pool by using circulating cooling 
    system. At 3:28 pm on the same day, we completed the injection. 
 
· Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station: 
    Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to the earthquake 
 
· Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station: 
    Units 6: under normal operation 
    (Units 1 to 5 and 7: outage due to regular inspections) 
 
 [Thermal Power Station] 
· Power supply has returned to normal and the facilities damaged by the 
  earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner. 
 
 [Hydro Power Station] 
· Power supply has returned to normal and the facilities damaged by the 
  earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner. 
 
 [Impacts on Transmission Facilities] 
· Power supply has returned to normal and the facilities damaged by the 
  earthquake are now being handled in a timely manner. 
 
 [Impacts on Power Supply and Demand Balance] 
This winter, there are some minus factors such as the regular inspection 
of Unit 5 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station. On the other hand, 
there are several plus factors such as the recovery of the common thermal 
power stations which suffered the earthquake. As a result, we expect to 
secure 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 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 on February 28, 2012) (PDF 456KB) 
Appendix: Past Progress (From March 11, 2011 to July 31, 2011) (PDF 225KB) 
 
* Revised past progress 
back to page top


to TOP