We need to secure space on site in order to move forward with the decommissioning process and further reduce risks, such as by retrieving fuel debris that is highly radioactive.
In order to "balance recovery with decommissioning," TEPCO is moving forward with the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station while prioritizing safety in order to protect regional residents, workers, and the surrounding environment from the risks associated with radioactive substances.
Currently, conditions at the plant are stably maintained and managed, and we are steadily moving forward with decommissioning such as by developing detailed methods to retrieve fuel debris. As we progress, we will need to handle more difficult tasks, such as removing the fuel from the Unit 1/2 spent fuel pools, and retrieving highly radioactive fuel debris.
In order to move forward steadily and safely with these tasks, we need a facility to store the retrieved fuel debris etc. safely.
The tanks and pipe facilities that currently occupy a large portion of the site may hinder future decommissioning work by preventing from leveraging the limited space at the plant to the best of our ability and constructing required facilities in accordance with plans.