Japanese TEPCO to stick with original nuke shutdown plan, despite troubles

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said Tuesday that despite the scratch at its crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant being far broader than previously thought at three of the complex's faulty reactors, it would adhere to its previous roadmap of six-to-nine-month to bring the nuclear disaster to an end. "As for the timetable of achieve the objectives, there are different kinds of uncertain elements and risks, but there is no change in the following target announce previously," TEPCO officials said in a press briefing on Tuesday, in and renew to its original plan. TEPCO last week voided original plans to flood the No. 1 containment chamber, which surrounds the reactor vessel, to avoid the fuel from overheating in a process that would have been recognized as water entombment.

The move came after the usefulness discovered that due to surprising low levels of water, nuclear fuel rods had been fully out in a reactor at the crippled No. 1 Fukushima nuclear power plan and melted fuel has dropped to the bottom of the pressure vessel. TEPCO said a huge amount of nuclear fuel is likely to have melted after being fully exposed and that nearly all of the nuclear fuel at the Nos. 1-3 units appear to have melt in the early stage of the nuclear crisis after the earthquake and tsunami disrupt the cooling systems. Prior to this finding, TEPCO said in mid-April that it hoped to steady the plant within six to nine months, but the Asia's biggest utility firm confirmed Tuesday the time line would not change.

Also on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the government would allow an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into a series of accidents that have happened at the plant and sparked domestic and international controversy. "We have strived to ensure the utmost transparency for the international society over the accidents," Edano told a news conference. "Accepting the investigative team is part of this attempt. Sharing our country's experience with others will be helpful," the top government spokesperson said.