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Tepco confirms extra partial fuel rod meltdown at plant | Tepco confirms extra partial fuel rod meltdown at plant |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) has confirmed the meltdown of extra fuel rods in reactors at its damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. | Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) has confirmed the meltdown of extra fuel rods in reactors at its damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. |
The company said that the rods were in its Number 2 and Number 3 reactors. | The company said that the rods were in its Number 2 and Number 3 reactors. |
Tepco has been trying to contain radiation from the plant, crippled by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. | Tepco has been trying to contain radiation from the plant, crippled by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. |
The company said that it planned to stick to its timetable of getting the radiation under control by January. | The company said that it planned to stick to its timetable of getting the radiation under control by January. |
Tepco's announcement came on the same day that a team from the United Nations' atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), kicked off a visit in Japan. | Tepco's announcement came on the same day that a team from the United Nations' atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), kicked off a visit in Japan. |
100 hours | 100 hours |
Earlier this month, Tepco had revealed that rods at its Number 1 reactor melted down. It was thought that a similar problem had occurred in the other reactors but it was difficult to confirm. | Earlier this month, Tepco had revealed that rods at its Number 1 reactor melted down. It was thought that a similar problem had occurred in the other reactors but it was difficult to confirm. |
"Based on our analysis, we have reached the conclusion that a certain amount of nuclear fuel has melted down," Ken Matsuda, a Tepco spokesman told the BBC. | "Based on our analysis, we have reached the conclusion that a certain amount of nuclear fuel has melted down," Ken Matsuda, a Tepco spokesman told the BBC. |
He said the analysis came from a report that Tepco was required to submit to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (Nisa). | He said the analysis came from a report that Tepco was required to submit to Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (Nisa). |
The spokesman added that most of the fuel from the Number 2 reactor had melted approximately 100 hours after the earthquake, which measured 9 on the Richter scale, struck Japan. | The spokesman added that most of the fuel from the Number 2 reactor had melted approximately 100 hours after the earthquake, which measured 9 on the Richter scale, struck Japan. |
The meltdown in the Number 3 reactor took place about 60 hours after the quake. | The meltdown in the Number 3 reactor took place about 60 hours after the quake. |
Mr Matsuda said the new discovery would not alter Tepco's plans. | Mr Matsuda said the new discovery would not alter Tepco's plans. |
The company has said that it wants to reach a "cold shutdown" of the power plant by January, and has been trying to cool the reactors and get the unstable fuel rods back under control. | The company has said that it wants to reach a "cold shutdown" of the power plant by January, and has been trying to cool the reactors and get the unstable fuel rods back under control. |
"This result does not change our work," he said. | "This result does not change our work," he said. |
Japan's government has faced some criticism at home, and from its neighbours, over its handling of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power station. | |
The Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has said the team from the International Atomic Energy Agency is being welcomed into the country to demonstrate transparency. | |
Led by Mike Weightman, Britain's chief inspector of nuclear installations, the 20 experts from a dozen countries are expected to visit the crippled plant. | |
They'll also meet officials as they compile a report which will be presented to member states of the IAEA next month. | |
The aim is to learn lessons to improve nuclear safety worldwide, and to share expertise. | |
Radiation monitoring | |
Earlier in May, Tepco revealed that the damage sustained by the Number 1 reactor immediately after the earthquake and tsunami was far more severe than initially thought. | Earlier in May, Tepco revealed that the damage sustained by the Number 1 reactor immediately after the earthquake and tsunami was far more severe than initially thought. |
Professor Nobumasa Akiyama of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo said Tepco's new revelation reinforces that idea. | Professor Nobumasa Akiyama of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo said Tepco's new revelation reinforces that idea. |
In an effort to better understand the current situation in Japan specialists from the IAEA are joining other international experts in Tokyo for a fact-finding mission. | In an effort to better understand the current situation in Japan specialists from the IAEA are joining other international experts in Tokyo for a fact-finding mission. |
They are expected to submit a report on Japan's handling of the nuclear crisis to present to the IAEA's member states. | They are expected to submit a report on Japan's handling of the nuclear crisis to present to the IAEA's member states. |
The group is expected to visit the Fukushima nuclear plant, though details have not been finalised. | The group is expected to visit the Fukushima nuclear plant, though details have not been finalised. |
Professor Akiyama said that the IAEA had come under criticism for its reaction to the Fukushima crisis. | Professor Akiyama said that the IAEA had come under criticism for its reaction to the Fukushima crisis. |
"First of all, it has not been able to provide the information on what's going on on the ground," he said. "Secondly, it hasn't been able to provide a prescription for the solution of the crisis." | "First of all, it has not been able to provide the information on what's going on on the ground," he said. "Secondly, it hasn't been able to provide a prescription for the solution of the crisis." |
Mr Akiyama said the nuclear agency would be expected to provide more guidelines for nuclear safety after the visit to Japan this week. | Mr Akiyama said the nuclear agency would be expected to provide more guidelines for nuclear safety after the visit to Japan this week. |
He added that it may need to be beef up its funding and staff if it was going to be able to fulfil its mandate. | He added that it may need to be beef up its funding and staff if it was going to be able to fulfil its mandate. |