First move nuclear fuel in Fukushima

Japanese media on July 18 reported that workers working at the Daiichi incident nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture for the first time have moved nuclear fuel here since the earthquake - tsunami disaster. in March 2011.

A factory spokesman said at the time of the tsunami there were more than 1,300 bars of fuel in use and more than 200 other unused rods remained in the tank at unit 4, where the impact was heaviest.

Fukushima Daichi Factory

A television footage showed dozens of workers in white protective clothing are conducting to extract fuel rods from the taps and two 4-meter-long fuel rods were removed from the tank.

The tsunami has melted reactors No. 1,2 and 3 and emptied the No. 4 furnace. In addition, the natural incident also destroyed the cooling system, causing the fuel tank to remain boiling, then caused an explosion after hydrogen accumulation.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the owner of Fukushima plant, said the relocation has been planned since early July and this is the first time TEPCO has decided to relocate materials at the factory since after disaster.

The company will also conduct a check on the rusting of fuel rods, which are corroded by seawater.