Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2016

Continued improvement in working conditions at Fukushima Daiichi also reported

TOKYO, May 30-Advances in the "ice wall" designed to create a frozen soil barrier around the four affected reactor units at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, together with further progress at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station and in company-wide safety improvements highlight the most recent quarterly report on progress in implementation of TEPCO Holdings' Nuclear Safety Reform Plan.

The report, issued to the international advisory group known as the Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee, covers the fourth quarter of TEPCO Holdings' fiscal year, January-March 2016. As has become customary, the report describes developments at the three nuclear power stations individually, as well as overall safety matters. (Many of these developments have been described in greater detail in previous email magazines.)

Fukushima Daiichi and Daini

The report describes progress in the construction and the beginning of freezing of the "ice wall," a system designed to create a frozen soil barrier around Units 1-4 to prevent water from flowing into the basements (and thereby becoming contaminated). Since the period covered by the report, freezing has progressed and now underground soil temperatures in the Phase I freezing area have dropped below 0°C, or 32°F, at more than 90 percent of the measuring points.

Other progress noted in the report includes:

-Shifting the K Drainage channel at Fukushima Daiichi permanently to ensure that it flows into the protected port area rather than open ocean.
-Reduction in Fukushima Daiichi radiation levels to expand the areas where ordinary work clothes can be worn, achievement of site boundary radiation targets, and the opening of a Lawson convenience store on the premises.
-At Fukushima Daini, various risk management activities to further reduce risks associated with the storage pools for spent fuel.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa

The work to strengthen Kashiwazaki-Kariwa against possible threats continues. During the period covered by the report, work included the replacement of oil tanks with steel-paneled tanks capable of withstanding collisions with flying rubble. And additional reinforced concrete shielding was installed to protect first responders in the event of an accident.

There was also a large and successful integrated training exercise on February 15 to test information flow, coordinating with Nuclear Regulatory Agency, logistic support centers, and nearby municipalities.

Overall Progress in Safety Reform

Continued progress was reported in three areas of overall safety reform: safety awareness, technical capability, and the promotion of dialogue. Using the relatively new "key performance indicator" scores in these areas, the report notes modest improvements in each of the three areas.

To view a summary of the report including the KPI graphs, go to http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu16_e/images/160530e0101.pdf(PDF 454KB) .
A full version of the report is also available at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu16_e/images/160530e0102.pdf(PDF 4.00MB) .

About TEPCO Holdings Group
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO Holdings) is Japan's largest power company group, holding three independent business entities: TEPCO Fuel & Power, Inc., TEPCO Power Grid, Inc., and TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc. As a group, it generates, distributes, and sells electricity and other types of energy principally to the Kanto metropolitan area, which includes Japan's two most populous cities, Tokyo and Yokohama. Its 33,000 employees are committed to providing safe, reliable power to its 29 million customers as well as fulfilling its responsibilities to the communities of Fukushima. (As of April 1, 2016)
TEPCO Website: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html
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