TEPCO must act on its recovery plan
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has finally revealed a timetable for ending the ongoing emergency at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Under the announced schedule, the power utility will seek to halt the continued escape of radioactive substances from the crippled nuclear complex within six to nine months, a task essential for delisting the areas designated as evacuation zones in the wake of the cataclysmic March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left the plant severely damaged.
The utility should steadily translate its plans into action, and do all it can to implement the envisaged measures ahead of schedule.
TEPCO's announcement of the timetable came after the government instructed the firm to put together a set of steps to overcome the nuclear crisis as soon as possible. The government's instruction reflected its belief that revealing a medium-term target aimed at overcoming the emergency was vital to allaying a great deal of fear at home and overseas.
The announcement of the timetable may well be regarded as an indication that the Fukushima facility is being pulled out of the highly critical situation that prevailed there for some time.
In fact, little was known about the exact extent of damage suffered by reactor buildings and other facilities at the nuclear complex, because high levels of radiation made them inaccessible. However, TEPCO is gradually finding it possible to determine the condition of damaged structures at the compound by, for example, using a remote-controlled robot.
===
Cooling is 1st goal
With this in mind, the power utility has defined the next three months as "Step 1" and the three to six months following that as "Step 2" under the timetable.
The biggest target for Step 1 will be to ensure the reactors at the facility can be stably cooled. TEPCO will strive to fill containers for the Nos. 1 and 3 reactors with water and then circulate it to confirm the facility's cooling system functions the way it should.
The second step will seek to stop leakage of radioactive materials into the air. To achieve this, TEPCO is considering enclosing each of the buildings in a cubic framework covered with sheets of protective material.
However, questions can be raised about whether the utility will be able to make smooth progress in carrying out these measures in accordance with its own timetable.
The greatest worry about the planned measures is the presence of radioactive contaminants at the nuclear complex. A possible increase in contamination would make it difficult for the power utility to make headway in the work. Adding to this anxiety is the sequence of large aftershocks that has struck areas surrounding the nuclear plant.
TEPCO needs to brace itself for such dangers. The utility must know that if a new crippling crisis strikes, the firm can not get away with defending itself by describing it as "beyond all expectations."
===
Remember evacuees
We also hope the power corporation's attempt to achieve the intended target will be complemented by paying adequate attention to residents who have fled from the evacuation zones.
About 100,000 residents who have been told to leave the evacuation zones are increasingly apprehensive about how long it will take to lay the ongoing nuclear emergency to rest, as well as when they will be able to return to their homes.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda has said, "Most likely within six to nine months, we want to ensure that people who fled certain areas are notified whether they'll be able to go home."
We believe the government and TEPCO should let the evacuees know more about what will be in store for them during their fight against the nuclear crisis. These people should be provided with clear, timely and precise information about progress in the work and any changes in the levels of contamination in the evacuation zones.
It also will be necessary to consider how to rehabilitate the areas to which the evacuees will have returned, while also studying specific assistance measures for such residents.
Response to disaster reaffirms Japan-U.S. ties
Japan's strong partnership with the United States, it may be said, has been reconfirmed through joint disaster response efforts after the March 11 catastrophe.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Sunday talks with Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto after her arrival in Japan, pledged "steadfast support" for Japan in the process of rebuilding from the aftermath of Great East Japan Earthquake. Kan expressed thanks for "outstanding support" from the United States and told her, "We'll never forget U.S. assistance."
A joint news conference of the two foreign ministers was also attended by Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), and Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The two countries agreed to promote joint public-private efforts to support Japan's reconstruction.
In addition to its Operation Tomodachi, which involved up to 20,000 U.S. military personnel, the United States has so far extended a wide variety of assistance that ranged from material supplies and the dispatch of nuclear experts and relief teams to the provision of a robot.
===
'A friend in need'
A fierce debate was conducted between Japan and the United States, with the latter assessing the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima Prefecture as more serious. But in interactions including such heated discussions, the Japanese side has been reminded of the proverb, "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
The Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military joined hands in transporting goods and materials to the disaster-stricken areas and in conducting search-and-rescue operations for missing people. This served as a valuable experience for both sides.
After the end of the Cold War, the two countries revised defense cooperation guidelines and have conducted joint military exercises responding to hypothetical emergencies. This time around, they had a real joint field experience.
What went well in the bilateral cooperation? What were the problems? It is important for the SDF and U.S. forces to thoroughly study these points to learn lessons for future collaboration.
Matsumoto and Clinton agreed to hold a Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee meeting ahead of a visit by Kan to the United States that the two sides are in the process of arranging to hold in late June. The meeting, to be attended by the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, should be held as soon as possible.
===
Many issues still pending
The so-called two-plus-two meeting was originally scheduled for April 29 in Washington but has been postponed because of Japan's priority on post-disaster measures. Another factor is said to be that there has been little progress toward resolving the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
Needless to say, implementing post-disaster measures is a top priority for Japan. But it will have adverse effects if Japan uses this as an excuse to put off what should be done.
A host of issues are still pending between Japan and the United States. Among them are the Futenma relocation issue, the transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam, finding ways to deepen the bilateral alliance and bilateral consultations over Japan's participation in the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade framework. All these challenges call for steady progress.
Japan is supposed to be capable enough to tackle these issues simultaneously. At least, its bureaucratic machinery is ready for that. If this country cannot do it, blame will be put on politicians--above all on the prime minister and members of his Cabinet.
0 comments:
Post a Comment