Fukushima Daiichi NPS Prompt Report 2018

Advances reported in preparations for spent fuel removal from Fukushima’s Unit 3

TOKYO, Feb. 9 - Two significant advances toward removal of spent fuel from damaged Unit 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station highlighted TEPCO’s latest quarterly report on its implementation of the Nuclear Safety Reform Plan.

The report covers the company’s third quarter of its fiscal year, the months October - December 2017.

Unit 3 was one of the units at Fukushima Daiichi that experienced severe damage during the March 2011 accident. Extensive preparations have been underway to ready the building for removal of the spent fuel that has been stored in the spent fuel pool. During that quarter, a new machine to handle the fuel assemblies was lowered in by a crane, and six of the eight segments of a new roof were put in place.

The report addresses a variety of other developments at Fukushima Daiichi as well as at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPS and throughout the company’s nuclear division. They include:

　・Consideration of the use of automated electric buses to shuttle workers more efficiently around the extensive grounds of Fukushima Daiichi
　・A visit by Governor Uchibori of Fukushima Prefecture to encourage the workers and review progress.
　・Fireproofing improvements at KK
　・Resolution of issues with emergency response procedures
　・The second meeting of TEPCO’s new Nuclear Safety Advisory Board, during which the members spent four days observing and providing guidance on a variety of operational areas, including worker safety, operations, maintenance, and more.

In addition, the update reports on the 14^th meeting of TEPCO’s international oversight group, the Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee, which took place in Tokyo on November 20. The NRMC received reports on the status of improvements based on the results of the self-assessment review conducted in FY2016, and on the activity of the NSAB.

An English-language summary of the progress report may be found at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu18_e/images/180209e0101.pdf. The full report is available online at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/betu18_e/images/180209e0102.pdf.

About TEPCO

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO) 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 as well as fulfilling its responsibilities to the communities of Fukushima.
(As of April 1, 2017)