search



Corporate Information

 
Press Release (Mar 23,2011)
Status of TEPCO's Facilities and its services after Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake (as of 9:00AM)
Due to the Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake which occurred on March 11th 
2011, TEPCO's facilities including our nuclear power stations have been 
severely damaged. We deeply apologize for the anxiety and inconvenience 
caused. 

Below is the status of TEPCO's major facilities.
*new items are underlined
[Nuclear Power Station] 
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: 
  Units 1 to 3: shutdown due to earthquake 
  (Units 4 to 6: outage due to regular inspection) 

* The national government has instructed to evacuate for those local 
residents within 20km radius of the site periphery and to remain indoors 
for those local residents between 20km and 30km radius of the site 
periphery.

* Unit 1
The explosive sound and white smoke was confirmed near Unit 1 when the 
big quake occurred at 3:36 pm, March 12th. 
We have started injection of sea water at 8:20 pm, March 12th, and then 
boric acid which absorbs neutron into the reactor afterwards. 
 At around 2:30 am, March 23rd, we have started the injection of sea water 
 into the reactor from feed water system. 

* Unit 2
At 1:25 pm, March 14th, since the Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System 
has failed, it was determined that a specific incident stipulated in 
Clause 1, Article 15 of Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear 
Emergency Preparedness occurred (failure of reactor cooling function).

At 5:17 pm, March 14th, while the water level in the reactor reached the 
top of the fuel rod, we have restarted the water injection with the valve 
operation. 

At approximately 6:14 am, March 15th, the abnormal sound was confirmed 
near the suppression chamber and the pressure inside the chamber decreased 
afterwards. It was determined that there is a possibility that something 
happened in the suppression chamber. While sea water injection to the 
reactor continued, TEPCO employees and workers from other companies not in 
charge of injection work started tentative evacuation to a safe location.

Sea water injection to the reactor is still under operation.

On March 18th, power was delivered up to substation for backup power 
through offsite transmission line. We completed laying cable further to 
unit receiving facility in the building, and at 3:46 pm, March 20th the 
load-side power panel of the receiving facility started to be energized.
From 3:05 pm to 5:20 pm on March 20th, 40 tons of seawater was injected 
into Unit 2 by TEPCO employees.
At 6:20 on March 21st, white smoke was confirmed arising from the top of 
the reactor building. As of 7:11 am on March 22nd, smoke decreased to the 
level where we can hardly confirm. 
 From around 4 pm to 5 pm, approximately 18 tons of sea water was injected 
 into the spent fuel pool by TEPCO employees. 

* Unit 3 
 At 6:50 am, March 14th, while water injection to the reactor was under 
 operation, the pressure in the reactor containment vessel increased to 
 530 kPa. As a result, at 7:44 am, it was determined that a specific 
 incident stipulated in article 15, clause 1 occurred (abnormal increase 
 of the pressure of reactor containment vessel). Afterwards, the pressure 
 has gradually decreased (as of 9:05 am, 450 kPa). 

We continue injecting water into a reactor.
* We announced in our past reports that "On March 14, the pressure in the 
  primary containment vessel increased and it was determined that a 
  specific incident stipulated in the Article 15, the Clause 1 of Act on 
  Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness occurred". 
  However, we made a mistake in the calculation of the pressure value and 
  the status of Unit 3 did not fall under the above-mentioned specific 
  incidents. We will delete the related description from our latest report.

At approximately 11:01 am, March 14th, an explosion followed by white 
smoke occurred near Unit 3. 4 TEPCO employees and 3 workers from other 
companies (all of them are conscious) have sustained injuries and they 
were already taken to the hospital by ambulances. 

As the temperature of water in the spent fuel pool rose, spraying water 
by helicopters with the support of the Self Defense Force was considered, 
however the operation on March 16th was cancelled.

At 6:15 am, March 17th, the pressure of the Suppression Chamber 
temporarily increased, but currently it is stable in a certain range. 
On March 20th, we were preparing to implement a measurement to reduce 
the pressure of the reactor containment vessel (partial discharge of 
air containing radioactive material to outside) in order to fully secure 
safety. However, at present, it is not a situation to take a measure 
immediately to discharge air containing radioactive material to outside. 
We will continue to monitor the status of the pressure of the reactor 
containment vessel. Monitoring will be continued.

In order to cool spent fuel pool, water was sprayed by helicopters on 
March 17th with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces.
At approximately past 7:00 pm, March 17th, Self-Defense Forces and the 
police had started spraying water by water cannon trucks upon our 
request for the cooperation. At 8:09 pm, March 17th, they had finished 
the operation.

At 2:00 pm, March 18th, spraying water by fire engines was started with 
the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and the United States Armed Forces. 
At 2:45 pm, March 18th, they had finished the operation.

At approximately 0:30 am, March 19th, spraying water was started with the 
cooperation of Fire Rescue Task Forces of Tokyo Fire Department started 
spraying water. At approximately 1:10 am, March 19th, they finished the 
operation. They resumed spraying water at 2:10 pm. At approximately 3:40 
am, March 20th, they finished the operation.
At approximately 9:30 pm, March 20th, spraying water was started with the 
cooperation of Fire Rescue Task Forces of Tokyo Fire Department. At 
approximately 3:58 am, March 21st, they finished the operation.

At approximately 3:55 pm, March 21st, light gray smoke was confirmed 
arising from the southeast side of the 5th floor roof of the Unit 3 
building, and the situation was reported to the fire department at 
approximately 4:21 pm. The parameters of reactor pressure vessel, 
reactor containment vessel, and monitored environmental data remained 
at the same level. However, employees working around Unit 3 evacuated 
to a safe location. It is observed the smoke has been decreasing. On 
March 22nd, the color of smoke changed to somewhat white and it is 
slowly dissipating.

At approximately 3:10 pm on March 22nd, water discharge into Unit 3 by 
Tokyo Fire Department's Hyper Rescue and Osaka City Fire Department was 
conducted and completed at approximately 4:00 PM on the same day.

* Unit 4
At approximately 6:00 am, March 15th, an explosive sound was heard and 
the damage in the 5th floor roof of Unit 4 reactor building was confirmed. 
At 9:38 am, the fire near the north-west part of 4th floor of Unit 4 
reactor building was confirmed. At approximately 11:00 am, TEPCO employees 
confirmed that the fire was off. 

At approximately 5:45 am, a TEPCO employee discovered a fire at the 
northwest corner of the Nuclear Reactor Building. TEPCO immediately 
reported this incident to the fire department and the local government 
and proceeded with the extinction of fire. 
At approximately 6:15 am, TEPCO staff confirmed at the site that there 
are no signs of fire. 
At approximately 8:21 am, March 20th, spraying water by fire engines was 
started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and they finished 
the operation at approximately 9:40 am. At approximately 6:45 pm spraying 
water was started by Self-Defenses' water cannon trucks and finished at 
approximately 7:45 pm.

At approximately 6:30 am, March 21st, spraying water by fire engines was 
started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces and the United States 
Armed Forces. At approximately 8:40 am, March 21, they had finished the 
operation.

As of March 21st, cabling has been completed from temporary substation 
to the main power center.

From approximately 5:20 PM on March 22nd, water discharge from the 
concrete pumping vehicle was conducted and ended at approximately 8:30 
PM on the same day.


* On March 18th, regarding the spent fuel in the common spent fuel pool, 
  we have confirmed that the water level of the pool is secured. A 
  detailed inspection is under preparation.
  * common spent fuel pool: a spent fuel pool for common use set in a 
    separate building in a plant site in order to preserve spent fuel 
    which are transferred from the spent fuel pool in each Unit building.

* On March 17th, we patrolled buildings for dry casks and found no signs 
  of abnormal situation for the casks by visual observation. A detailed 
  inspection is under preparation.
  * dry cask: a measure to store spent fuel in a dry storage casks in 
    storages. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station started to utilize 
    the measure from August 1995.

* By 22nd March, electricity supply from external source for Units 1 to 6, 
have been restored. At 10:45 pm 22nd March, lights in the mail operation 
room were restored.
* At 5 am, Mar 19th, we started the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (C) 
of Unit 5 in order to cool the spent fuel pool. At 10:14 pm, we started 
the Residual Heat Removal System Pump (B) of Unit 6 in order to cool the 
spent fuel pool.

* Unit 5 has been in reactor cold shutdown since 2:30 pm on March 20th. 
Unit 6 has been in reactor cold shutdown since 7:27 pm on March 20th.

* At Units 5 and 6, in order to prevent hydrogen gas from accumulating 
within the buildings, we have made three holes on the roof of the reactor 
building for each unit

* In total 12 fire engines are lent for spraying water to the spent fuel 
pools and water injection to the nuclear reactors by various regional 
fire departments* as well as Tokyo Fire Department.

* On March 21st and 22nd, we detected cobalt, iodine and cesium from the 
seawater around discharge canal of Unit 1, 2, 3 and 4.

* We detected iodine and cesium in the air collected at the site of 
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 20th and 21st.

* We will continuously endeavor to securing safety, and monitoring of the 
surrounding environment.
Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station:
  Units 1 to 4: shutdown due to earthquake 
* The national government has instructed evacuation for those local 
residents within 10km radius of the periphery.

* In order to achieve cold shutdown, reactor cooling function was restored 
and cooling of reactors was conducted. As a result, all reactors achieved 
cold shutdown: Unit 1 at 5:00 pm, March 14th, Unit 2 at 6:00 pm, March 
14th, Unit 3 at 0:15 pm, March 12th, Unit 4 at 7:15 am, March 16th. 

* Since March 12th, we had been preparing measures for reducing the 
pressure of reactor containment vessels (partial discharge of air 
containing radioactive materials to outside), but on March 17th, we 
released such preparation in all Units.

* (Unit 1)
As it is confirmed that the temperature of the Emergency Equipment Cooling 
Water System *1 has increased, at 3:20 pm, March 15th, we stopped the 
Residual Heat Removal System (B) for the inspection. Subsequently, failure 
was detected in the power supply facility associated with the pumps of the 
Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System. At 4:25 pm, March 15th, after 
replacing the power facility, the pumps and the Residual Heat Removal 
System (B) have been reactivated.

* (Unit 4)
As it is confirmed that the pressure at the outlet of the pumps of the 
Emergency Equipment Cooling Water System*1 has been decreased, at 8:05 pm, 
March 15th, we stopped the Residual Heat Removal System (B) for the 
inspection. Subsequently, failure was detected in the power supply 
facility associated with the pumps of the Emergency Equipment Cooling 
Water System. At 9:25 pm, March 15th, after replacing the relevant 
facility, the pumps and the Residual Heat Removal System (B) have been 
reactivated.

*1:emergency water system in which cooling water (pure water) circulates 
which exchanged the heat with sea water in order to cool down bearing 
pumps and/or heat exchangers etc.
Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Station: 
  Units 1, 5, 6, 7: normal operation 
  (Units 2 to 4: outage due to regular inspection)
[Thermal Power Station] 
Hirono Thermal Power Station Units 2 and 4: shutdown due to earthquake
Hitachinaka Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake
Kashima Thermal Power Station Units 2, 3, 5, 6: shutdown due to earthquake
Higashi-Ohgishima Thermal Power Station Unit 1: shutdown due to earthquake
[Hydro Power Station] 
* All the stations have been restored.
 (Facilities damaged by the earthquake are now properly under consideration)
[Transmission System, etc.] 
All substation failed due to the earthquake have been restored.
[Blackout in TEPCO's Service Area] 
All the blackouts are resolved.
[Supply and Demand Status within TEPCO's Service Area to Secure Stable Power  
Supply] 
Backup supply from Shinshinano Conversion Station: 600MW
Backup supply from Sakuma Conversion Station: 300MW
Backup supply from Higashi Shimizu Conversion Station: 100MW
 Backup supply from Hokkaido-Honshu Interconnection Facilities: 600MW 

Considering the critical balance of our power supply capacity and expected 
power demand forward, in order to avoid unexpected blackout, TEPCO has 
been implementing rolling blackout (planned blackout alternates from one 
area to another) since Mar 14th. We will make our utmost to secure the 
stable power supply as early as possible. 
For customers who will be subject to rolling blackout, please be prepared 
for the announced blackout periods. Also for customers who are not subject 
to blackouts, TEPCO appreciates your continuous cooperation in reducing 
electricity usage by avoiding using unnecessary lighting and electrical 
equipment.
[Others] 
Please do NOT touch cut-off electric wires.
In order to prevent fire, please make sure to switch off the electric 
appliances such as hair drier and to shut down the breaker of distribution 
board when you leave your house.
For the customer who has in-house power generation, please secure fuel for 
generator. 

* Revised past progress
back to page top


to TOP