Tag: Fukushima

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Japan’s nuclear industry set for revival after #Fukushima – an annotated infographic

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Japan is preparing to restart its fleet of mothballed nuclear reactors under a new safety regime introduced in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima accident. 24 out of Japan’s 43 operable reactors have applied for restart permits. The first one to be approved is the Sendai plant on the southern island of Kyushu, which could be back online as soon as August 10. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is keen to revive the nuclear plants to reduce Japan’s reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports, which have driven up electricity prices and increased the country’s trade deficit. Click on the graphic for … Continue reading Japan’s nuclear industry set for revival after #Fukushima – an annotated infographic

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Japanese families return to #Fukushima – Japan still reliant on imported fuel – two annotated infographics

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For the first time since Japan’s nuclear disaster three years ago, authorities are allowing residents to return to live in their homes within part of the 20km no-go zone around the Fukushima plant. Meanwhile, one direct consequence of the disaster sees all of Japan’s 48 reactors remaining closed for safety inspections, with as few as a third of them likely to pass the stringent checks required to restart. With many reactors staying offline, Japan will continue to be heavily dependent on imported fuel to maintain its economy. E&T has been following the Fukushima story since the initial tsunami. Read our … Continue reading Japanese families return to #Fukushima – Japan still reliant on imported fuel – two annotated infographics

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#Fukushima fuel rods finally removed – an annotated graphic

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Workers at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant have started removing fuel rods from the plant’s reactor 4, the only one that didn’t melt down after the 2011 earthquake. The highly dangerous procedure is the first step towards full decommissioning and clean-up of the plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which is foreseen to take decades. Unit 4 was the only reactor that was off-line during the tragic 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, as it was undergoing maintenance. Its fuel rods were, at the time of the incident, stored in a storage pool inside the building. Thanks to … Continue reading #Fukushima fuel rods finally removed – an annotated graphic

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#Fukushima dangers and leaks – two annotated graphics

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With the news that radiation levels have spiked 18-fold at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, as millions of gallons of radioactive water pour out of the stricken plant and head towards the sea, the Japanese government has been obliged to step in with the announcement of a “comprehensive package of measures” to stem the toxic tide. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government “will step forward and implement all necessary policies” to deal with the flood of radioactive water from the plant, a legacy of the world’s worst atomic disaster in a quarter century. E&T has a comprehensive collection of … Continue reading #Fukushima dangers and leaks – two annotated graphics

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EU nuclear reactors need expensive safety improvements – an annotated graphic

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EU nuclear reactors face multiple problems, with most plants in the European Union requiring some form of safety improvements to be able to deal with extreme emergencies. This work could cost something in the region of a tidy €25 billion, according to a draft EU Commission report aimed at preventing a repeat of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The final version of the report, expected to be published later this month, will be the basis for debate among government leaders at a summit on 18 October. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading EU nuclear reactors need expensive safety improvements – an annotated graphic

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#Nuclear industry recovers after #Fukushima – an annotated graphic

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After the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, several major nations – including Germany, Belgium and Italy – vowed to quit atomic energy. One year later, 44 of the world’s nations – including 18 previously non-nuclear countries – propose building over 540 new reactors. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Nuclear industry’s international recovery Continue reading #Nuclear industry recovers after #Fukushima – an annotated graphic

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Fukushima anniversary – read the full story in E&T’s special news report

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One year after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit north Japan on March 11 2011, triggering the devastating tsunami which led to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, E&T reflects on a year of reporting the engineering news about the after-effects. All our Fukushima news stories are gathered together on a special report page, which is dynamically updated every time we report on further developments. Why not bookmark our Fukushima news page to stay abreast of this story? Continue reading Fukushima anniversary – read the full story in E&T’s special news report