In delicate operation, 20-ton object removed from Fukushima fuel pool

[yuiyoshida]

By HIROMI KUMAI/ Staff Writer

Tokyo Electric Power Co. on Aug. 2 removed a 20-ton piece of debris from a nuclear fuel storage pool, a small but critical step in decommissioning the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

It was the largest piece of debris left in the No. 3 reactor building’s storage pool, which is holding 566 nuclear fuel assemblies.

The reactor building was heavily damaged by a hydrogen explosion shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, triggered the nuclear crisis at the plant.

The object removed was part of fuel replacement equipment used to load and unload nuclear fuel at the No. 3 reactor. It has prevented TEPCO from removing the nuclear fuel assemblies in the pool to a safer location.

read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201508020026

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. I cannot even imagine how people feel living all these years with that plant spewing radiation. n/t

[passiveporcupine]

2. The gift that keeps on giving. nt

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Thank you young lady. I'm old and remember

the damage nuclear power can bring to your nation.

[dembotoz]

4. Trumps ego?

[FBaggins]

5. The come now... Surely you read the title?

It was only 20 tons.