Japan to shut down another nuclear power plant
On Friday, because of safety problems that may arise in the event of another natural disaster in Japan, the management of NPP Hamaoka 200 km southwest of Tokyo began the shutdown procedures. Master moderating rods, which are designed to completely disable it within a day, were introduced into one of its two currently operating reactors. The same operation will be done on Saturday at the second power unit.Of the five reactors at NPP Hamaoka, two were fully decommissioned in 2009, since they had exhausted their resources. The third had previously been stopped for scheduled repairs.
The three operating reactors of NPP Hamaoka could generate 3.6 million kilowatts of electric power.
This is about 10% of all capacities of the Chubu Electric Power Company, which serves the central regions of Japan.
Now it will try to compensate for the loss by re-activating the previously stalled thermal power plant, as well as ask their clients to take steps to save energy, reports the ITAR-TASS agency.
The Hamaoki shutdown was undertaken at the request of the government, which had concluded that this NPP, which is sitting on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, is poorly protected from a possible tsunami.
According to experts, an earthquake of magnitude 8 can occur with 87% probability in the area of the nuclear power plant over the next 30 years. It can cause a large tsunami, which is certain to inflict dangerous damage to the plant. Potential emissions of radiation from the Hamaoki plant directly threaten Tokyo, because the winds are blowing steadily out toward the Japanese capital.
In the offing, breakwaters and other protective structures will be built near the plant, which will cover it from tsunamis. This will take 2-3 years. After that, the NPP may resume its operation.
The decision to close Hamaoku was a direct consequence of the accident at the nuclear power plant Fukushima-1 at 240 km north of Tokyo, which was seriously damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. There is a continuing emission of radiation into the atmosphere, and it a lot of radioactive water was noted to get into the ocean. On May 12, the station operator, the Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) company for the first time acknowledged the fact of complete melting (full meltdown) of nuclear fuel in one of the 3 damaged reactors at NPP Fukushima-1. After the confirmation of the meltdown of nuclear fuel, a hydrogen explosion inside the facility becomes the main danger. However, the plant operator and experts believe this risk negligible.
The population of the areas surrounding the station has been evacuated, and now the issue of compensation, which is estimated at tens of billions of dollars, is being resolved.
Video on the topic:
The fourth reactor of the Japanese nuclear power plant Hamaoka discontinues its work
Source video: Petersburg Channel 5
See also
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