MUSIC

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Fukushima leak: Japan government 'to take measures'

8 August 2013

Local government officials and nuclear experts inspect a facility to prevent seeping of contamination water into the sea at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture. Japan, 6 August 2013
Experts say it will be years before problems at the plant can be fully contained

Japan's prime minister pledged government action on the Fukushima clean-up, as radioactive water leaks from the nuclear plant.

On Wednesday, a government official said up to 300 tonnes of highly radioactive water may be flowing into the sea every day.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would take "firm measures" to contain the leak.

One proposal being considered is to freeze the ground around the plant.

The plant was badly damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. It has been hit by a spate of water leaks and power failures in recent months.

"Rather than relying on [plant operator] Tokyo Electric, the government will take measures," Mr Abe told reporters on Wednesday.

"This is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed."

Penn Bowers, a research analyst at CLSA Asia Pacific in Tokyo, told the BBC that the government appeared to be set to take a bigger role in the Tepco clean-up.

"[The government has] invested capital in the company to date but not taken any direct operational steps at the facility until now," he said.





 
 

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