translated from Japanese

Delay in Fuel Debris Trial Retrieval Will Not Affect Overall Decommissioning Schedule

Industry minister Ken Saito argues that delays at Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 2 will not derail the broader decommissioning timetable, while stressing government responsibility for waste handling, safety, treated-water impacts, hydrogen projects, and regional research-led recovery.

斎藤健経産相　廃炉工程に影響なし　「最後まで国の責任で」

Fukushima Minpo · By Ken Saito · 6 March 2024 · read the original in Japanese →

As the thirteenth anniversary approaches of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saito spoke in an interview with Fukushima Minpo, emphasizing that the delay in the planned trial retrieval of molten nuclear fuel, or fuel debris, from Unit 2 at Fukushima Daiichi would not affect the overall process, which sets completion of decommissioning at thirty to forty years. (Interviewer: Yasushi Anzai, Director and Editor-in-Chief)

—The trial retrieval of debris from Unit 2 at Fukushima Daiichi has been postponed three times from 2021, the date set in the medium- to long-term roadmap. People in the prefecture are voicing concern about its impact on the decommissioning schedule.

“We expect to begin the trial retrieval of debris from Unit 2 by around October at the latest. The knowledge gained through the work, including the conditions inside the reactor and improvements in the precision of the robotic arm, will be put to use in the next stage as well, so we believe there will be no impact on the overall decommissioning schedule. Through measures such as support for research and development aimed at expanding the scale of retrieval, we will accelerate TEPCO’s design, study, and related work.”

—The final form of Fukushima Daiichi’s decommissioning is still not in sight. With regard to spent nuclear fuel and debris, Fukushima Prefecture has consistently called for their removal outside the prefecture.

“For spent fuel, we want to assess its long-term soundness in light of factors such as the effects of seawater and damage, and then decide on future methods of treatment and storage together with the results of studies toward processing. As for debris, we will analyze its properties and consider methods for treatment and disposal. The final picture of decommissioning will be made concrete on the basis of analysis of the debris’ properties, while communicating with the local community and taking its wishes to heart. The national government will respond responsibly through to the very end.”

—There has been a succession of troubles at Fukushima Daiichi, including worker bodily contamination and leaks of water containing radioactive substances.

“I want TEPCO, in addition to measures to prevent recurrence, to conduct a thorough analysis, drawing on examples from other industries and the views of outside experts, of whether there are common factors behind human errors that could lead to high radiation risks. I have instructed the company to invest without hesitation in hardware and systems capable of preventing mistakes.” —Six months have passed since the start of the ocean discharge of treated water. How do you analyze the present situation?

“Leaving aside the effects of import restrictions imposed by China and others, I have not heard voices saying that, at present, there has been any major reputational damage from the discharge of treated water, such as a sharp decline in seafood prices. We have put in place support for the fisheries industry in Fukushima Prefecture and across the country, and I recognize that certain results are beginning to appear. Scallops, for example, had by last December returned to roughly the same export level as the previous year, thanks to increases in shipments to the United States and elsewhere, while domestic consumption, measured by spending among households of two or more people, has risen by about 1.4 times. We will seize every opportunity to call for the immediate lifting of import restrictions. The government will take full responsibility for the work until the disposal of treated water is complete.” —How will you support hydrogen-related projects in Fukushima Prefecture?

“With the commercialization of hydrogen trucks in view, their introduction has begun in Fukushima Prefecture ahead of the rest of the country. We want to expand the deployment of hydrogen trucks and develop hydrogen stations to meet trunk-line demand between Fukushima and Tokyo. As for the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field, we are working with Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, the relevant ministries and agencies, and others to examine how it should be operated, with a view to full-scale hydrogen supply from fiscal 2026 onward.”

—The Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI, pronounced ‘Efurei’) was established last April. How will the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry deepen its involvement?

“So that the results of research and development at F-REI will spread to local companies and others and contribute to the Hamadori region, we will promote the use of subsidies for practical application under the Innovation Coast initiative, self-reliance support subsidies, and other programs, as well as collaboration with companies housed at the Fukushima Robot Test Field. In cooperation with the Reconstruction Agency and other relevant ministries and agencies, we will organize cross-disciplinary research and development in areas such as ‘robots × agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.’ We also want to advance support for the concentration and settlement of research personnel in the Hamadori region and elsewhere.”