Current Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

-Efforts for Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Management-

Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METIJuly, 2019

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１．Progress on Fukushima Daiichi Decommissioning

２．Overview of Water Management

- Countermeasures for contaminated water

- Issue of “ALPS treated water”

３． Environmental Monitoring

４． IAEA review mission

５． Information Portal site

＜ Outline ＞

Introduction: Where is Fukushima Daiichi?

Approx. 250km from Tokyo

Unit 1-4

Approx. 2km 

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At the time of the nuclear accident Today

Overview : Current status of Fukushima Daiichi NPS

• The reactors of Fukushima Daiichi NPS are being kept in stable condition.

The accident cut off the water supply to thereactors. As a result, the fuel generated heat, andhydrogen explosions occurred.

Reactors are being kept stable.

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◇ Fukushima Daiichi Decommissioning is a continuous risk reduction activity to protect the people and the environment from the risks associated with radioactive substances by: Removing spent fuel and fuel debris from the Reactor Building Reducing the risks associated with contaminated water and radioactive waste

◇ Government of Japan published “Mid-and-Long-term Roadmap” Setting overall framework and major milestones for decommissioning

◇ Safe and steady decommissioning is a prerequisite for reconstruction of Fukushima Evacuation orders were lifted gradually around the site

1-1．Decommissioning of TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi NPS

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Water

Fuel Debris

Spent fuel(Spent fuel pool)

Fuel that remains after its usage for power generation. Continuous cooling is needed to suppress the heat

Fuel that has melted and solidified by the accident. Continuous cooling is needed to suppress the heat

Contaminated Water Management

Radioactive Solid Waste Management

Dec. 2011 Nov. 2013(Unit4) Within 2021Now

Phase 1Until start of fuel removal

from SFP（within 2 years）

Phase 2Until start of fuel debris

retrieval (within 10 years)

Phase 3Until completion of decommissioning

(30-40 years)

Decommissioning Road Map

Efforts for stabilizationCold shutdown statedrastic reduction of release of radioactive material

Watch the video!

“significant progress has already been accomplished to move Fukushima Daiichi from an emergency situation to a stabilized situation.”(IAEA review mission / January 31, 2019)

No fuel debris

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1-2．Progress and Milestones on Fukushima Daiichi Decommissioning

Started rubble removal from the operating floor:

(Jan. 2018-)

* Start spent fuel removal: (FY2023-)

Started investigation of the operating floor:

(July 2018-)

* Start spent fuel removal (FY2023-)

Started spent fuel removal: (April 2019-)

* Complete fuel removal (-FY2020)

Completed fuel removal(Dec.2014)

Achieved investigation inside of PCV:in Mar. 2017 in Jan.-Feb.2018/Jan.2018/Feb.2019 in July 2017

* Decide 1st implementing Unit and method (in FY2019)

* Start Fuel debris retrieval (within 2021)

Completed construction of frozen-soil wall (Sept. 2018)Completed storage of all treated water in welded-joint tanks (Mar. 2019)

* Reduce rate of arising contaminated Water to about 150 m3/day (within 2020)* Complete removal of stagnant water in buildings(other than reactor building) (within 2020)

* Establish technical perspective on measures of treatment/disposal and on safety (around FY2021)

Major Milestones and current situation of Unit 1-4 (*milestones of Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap)

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20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1-3．Impact on the Surrounding Environment

• The environmental impact on the site and surrounding area have been significantly reduced.

Guidance value recommended in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking water quality (10Bq/L)

(Bq/L)

There has been no effect of the radioactive material (dusts etc.) to the outside in the

course of decommissioning work.

Whole map of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant

Sea

AirRa

diat

ion

dose

rat

e (

mSv

/yea

r)

10,000 over

6

Near the south discharge channel

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Evaluation of annual exposure dose at the site boundary due to radioactive materials (cesium) from the reactors buildings of Units 1-4

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Iitate

KatsuraoNamie

Futaba

Areas where Returning is Difficult(ARD) 

Preparation Area for lift of Evaluation order

Habitation Restricted Area

Area in which evacuation orders were lifted

Coastal areain Fukushima Pref.

Minami‐soma

Tamura

Kawauchi

Naraha

Date

Hirono

Kawamata

Fukushima Daiichi NPS

Okuma

Tomioka

Iwaki

Ogawara, Chuyashiki districtsLifted on April 10th, 2019

Diagramareas under evacuation orders

(as of April 10th, 2019)

Explanatory notes

< Blue framed area >

・Ogawara district: Habitation Restricted Area

・Chuyashiki district : Preparation Area for lift of Evaluation order

Evacuation orders were lifted on April 10th, 2019.

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(ref.) Lift of evacuation orders

Waterproof pavement

2-1. Overview of Water Management- Multilayered Countermeasures -

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Sub-drain

Land-side impermeable wall(frozen-soil wall)

Sea-side impermeable wall

Groundwater-bypass

Store in tanksafter purification ( )

◇ Contaminated water is generated by groundwater and rainwater which are flowing inside the unit 1 to Unit 4 buildings of the NPS.

◇ Comprehensive set of countermeasures have taken by the TEPCO and GOJ: To reduce the rate of arising contaminated water; 490 m3 (FY2015) 170 m3 (FY2018) To prevent the leakage of contaminated water from the buildings;

Water level inside the buildings has been maintained at levels lower than groundwater outside To purify the contaminated water from the buildings (“ALPS treated water”) To safely store the “ALPS treated water” which was purified by several purification

equipment to remove most of the radionuclides except Tritium

2-2. Overview of Water Management- Effectiveness of measures to date -

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1. Rate of arising contaminated water is greatly reduced

2. Meets drinking water standard

*The concentration of radioactive materials in the sea around the site refers to the Cs-137 level near the south discharge channel

*The international standard for drinking water quality is 10Bq/L

3. A level of 1 mSv/year is attained at the site boundary

Apr. 2015to Mar. 2016

Apr. 2018to Mar. 2019

170㎥

Amount of contaminated water generated (daily average)

Concentration of radioactive materials in the sea around the plant

Estimated doses from facilities atthe south side of the site

Thanks to purification treatment of the water stored in tanks, estimated doses at the south side of the site decreased.

9.76 (mSv/year)

Mar. 2014

Approx. 10,000Bq/L

Mar. 2018March 2011

Less than the detection limit*(approx. 0.6Bq/L)

Dec. 2018

490㎥

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2-3. Overview of Water Management- Storage of ALPS treated water -

Status of ALPS treated water

Volume of water stored in tanks  About 1.14 million ton(as of June 2019)

Projected tank volume About 1.37 million ton (end of 2020)

Generation rate of ALPS treated water About 50,000‐80,000 ton/year

【ALPS treated water tanks spreading at 1F site】

At present, ALPS treated water (≠contaminated water) is being kept stored on site

Currently, tanks continue to increase. The installation area of the tanks occupy much of the southern half of the site.

The current tank capacity per the construction plan is 1.37 million tons. The available site area for building new tanks is approaching the limit. (ref. northern half of the site is planned to be the solid radioactive waste storage facilities area)

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2. Technical evaluation of disposal methods by the Tritiated Water Task Force

METIʼs “The Tritiated Water Task Force (2013-2016)” assessed the regulatory feasibility, technical feasibility (including monitoring to ensure safety), period and cost of 5 final treatment methods ; (1) geosphere injection, (2) discharge to the sea, (3) vapor release, (4) hydrogen release, and (5) underground burial. All cases are examined on the premise that there is no scientific impact on the human habitant. Verification project showed that the separation technology for tritium cannot yet put into use.

The issue of handling ALPS treated water has been discussed in “The Subcommittee on Handling ALPS Treated Water (2016-)”, considering reputational impact of the disposal as well as ensuring scientific safety.

All the measures, throughout their implementation, are subject to the approval of Nuclear Regulatory Authority in accordance with the Reactor Regulation Act.

2-4.Overview of Water Management– Discussion at Task Force and subcommittiee -

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Discharge to the sea

3-1. Seawater radiation monitor near Fukushima Daiichi NPS

Regulatory Limit Specified by Reactor Regulation・Cesium 137: 90Bq/L・Cesium 134: 60Bq/L

③ Near South Discharge Channel

Bq/l ① North side of units 5 and 6 discharge channel

② Real time monitoring

＜TEPCOʼs website＞

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Unit 1 ‐4

Sea-SideImpermeable Wall

Frozen-soil Wall

Fukushima Daiichi NPS 12

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/nu/fukushima-np/f1/seawater/index-e.html

3-2. Seawater radiation monitor around Fukushima Daiichi NPS

Seawater sampling points

(Source : NRA website)https://radioactivity.nsr.go.jp/en/contents/8000/7742/24/engan.pdf

FukushimaPrefecture

FukushimaDaiichiNPS

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sampling points

～20Km from Fukushima Daiichi NPS 

30～100Km from Fukushima Daiichi NPS 

① ②

③ ④①

②

③

④

4.Summary of the 4th IAEA Review - November 2018 (final report: Jan. 31, 2019)-

Main findings

‐ “ IAEA teams said Japan has made significant progress since the accident in March 2011, advancing from an emergency situation towards a stable situation now.” 

‐ “The team acknowledged a number of accomplishments since the 2015 mission, including:

The repair of subdrains and construction of the frozen soil wall around reactor Units 1‐4, which have reduced groundwater ingress into the reactor buildings.

Improved site working conditions including a reduced need for full protective gear, and real‐time radiation monitoring easily accessed by the workforce.

Progress towards the removal of spent fuel from Units 1‐3 as well as remote investigations of fuel debris by robots.”

*  Totally 17 acknowledgements and 21 advisory points are provided in the preliminary summary report.

Fuel Handling Machinefor the removal of spend fuel

【Reference】

Panorama image of the impermeable walls

Frozen‐soil walls

Reactor building

unit3

Areas where Protective clothing are required

Areas where ordinary clothing can be worn

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Ordinary clothing can be worn at 96% of the site

Decommissioning and Contaminated Water Managementat TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS

Progress Status Reports (monthly)

Film, Fukushima Today 2018 ‐ Efforts to Decommission and Reconstruction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZV2HRKNvao

5. Information Portal site （１） : Fukushima Daiichi NPS

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/nuclear/decommissioning/index.html#links

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Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates     

Observation Data, Fukushima Daiichi NPShttps://www7.tepco.co.jp/responsibility/decommissioning/1f_newsroom/data/index‐e.html‐ Monitoring post measurement data‐ Dust Monitors near the Site Boundary‐ Exhaust Stack Monitor‐ Seawater Radiation Monitor near Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station‐ Exhaust Stack Monitor of Miscellaneous Solid Waste Incinerator Building‐ The Monitoring Results at a time Airlock is Opened at the Reactor Building‐ Monitoring results related to the nitrogen injection to Primary Containment Vessel of Unit 3

5. Information Portal site （２） : Fukushima Daiichi NPS

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushima/status‐update

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IAEA Team Completes Fourth Review of Japan’s Plants to Decommission Fukushima Daiichi (November 13, 2018)https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea‐team‐completes‐fourth‐review‐of‐japans‐plans‐to‐decommission‐fukushima‐daiichi

IAEA Issues Final Report on Fourth Review of Fukushima Decommissioning (January 31, 2019)https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea‐issues‐final‐report‐on‐fourth‐review‐of‐fukushima‐decommissioning

IAEA Review mission reports (Press release )