For a variety of reasons, many nuclear power plants are currently being retired across the Western world. Decommissioned reactors have started to appear in Japan, too.
At Japanese sites, such as Chubu Electric Power’s Hamaoka nuclear power plant and Japan Atomic Power’s Tokai nuclear power plant, most of the decommissioning work has been carried out by Japanese firms. Local companies cost less, so this is a way to save money while also boosting the regional economy. Experts say that dismantling and clearing a nuclear plant is not that dangerous, provided it is done carefully, based on a meticulous plan.
However, this is not the case with the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Decommissioning a disaster-hit reactor is uncharted territory. The authorities still do not know exactly what is going on inside the reactor. What is clear, though, is the presence of strontium and other radioactive materials not usually found at retired nuclear sites. The work is further complicated by the damaged state of the buildings and facilities.
I heard that moves were underfoot to get foreign companies involved in the decommissioning process at Fukushima.
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