Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2017

Advances at Unit 3 include new protective cover and a submersible robot

TOKYO, August 4-Advances at the Unit 3 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power station, including a new protective cover for the building and the use of a submersible robot to explore inside the Primary Containment Vessel, formed the highlights of the latest quarterly report on TEPCO’s implementation of its Nuclear Safety Reform Plan.

The report covers the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year, April through June, but also notes that in July the Unit 3 robot undertook exploration of the PCV. Photographs from that exploration indicate what may be fuel debris from the March 2011 accident, though further analysis is being undertaken.

The Unit 3 cover is a dome like structure that was fabricated off-site and is being assembled atop the reactor building so that removal of fuel assemblies from the Unit’s spent fuel pool can be safely undertaken.

The report also includes:

　・An update on the application process that the company hopes will lead to restart of the two of the seven reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPS
　・A summary of the July 10 meeting of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, at which several senior executives of TEPCO were present
　・A brief summary of the 13^th meeting of the Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee
　・A summary of continuing management reforms related to safety, including better alignment within the organization, safety consciousness, technological capability, and the promotion of dialogue.

Among the latest efforts to improve safety consciousness is a new Nuclear Safety Advisory Board, composed of exceptional nuclear operators from outside Japan who will provide operational advice and guidance to Nuclear Power Division management. The board is expected to begin its activities in the second quarter of the fiscal year.

An English-language summary of the progress report may be found online at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu17_e/images/170804e0101.pdf

The full report is available at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu17_e/images/170804e0102.pdf

About TEPCO
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 42,060 employees are committed to providing safe, reliable power to its customers as well as fulfilling its responsibilities to the communities of Fukushima. (As of March 31, 2017)
TEPCO Website: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html
TEPCO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTEPCOen
TEPCO Twitter page: https://twitter.com/TEPCO_English