3 methods proposed to remove melted nuclear fuel at Fukushima plant

A semi-governmental organization has come up with three possible methods to tackle the most difficult and dangerous task at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant: removing the melted nuclear fuel from the reactors.

All three methods proposed by Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corp. (NDF) on April 9 carry the risk of radiation leaks and exposure to workers.

The difficulty in implementing these methods is also compounded by the fact that high radiation levels have prevented workers from determining the precise location and shape of the melted fuel.

The NDF, which is providing technological advice on removing the melted fuel from the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 reactors of the Fukushima plant, will incorporate the three methods in a road map scheduled to be revised by the government and the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., in spring.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201504100053