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Roadmap for Settling the Situation at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

April 21, 2011

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has announced a roadmap to bring its damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station under control in the next six to nine months. The Government of Japan considers the roadmap an important first step forward in coping with the accident caused by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The "Roadmap toward Restoration from the Accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station" (Attachment 1) has been put together by TEPCO at the instruction of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. It is based on the basic policy that gives priority to bringing the affected nuclear reactors and spent nuclear fuel pools to a stable cooling condition, restricting the release of radioactive materials into the environment, and thus allowing evacuated residents to return home and securing a sound life of the general public.

Step 1 to Take Three Months, Step 2 Three to Six Months

The roadmap envisions two major phases in achieving the above goals. Step 1 is to ensure a steady decline in the amount of radioactive materials released from the plant. Step 2 calls for the release of radioactive materials to be under control and the radiation dose to be held down significantly. Step 1 is to be completed in approximately three months and Step 2 in three to six months after completion of Step 1.

Government Emphasized Three Points

Following the announcement of Roadmap by TEPCO, Mr. Banri Kaieda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry stated that the Government would like to move from the "emergency response phase" up until now to the "planned and stabilizing action phase" in which the settlement of the situation will be aimed under the solid roadmap". He also clarified the following points.

  1. The Government continues to request TEPCO to ensure the implementation of this roadmap steadily and as early as possible. To this end, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and others will make regular follow-up, monitoring of the progress of the works and necessary safety checks;
  2. The Government also continues to request TEPCO to ensure the mobilization and deployment of workers, the procurement and preparation of equipment and materials, and the arrangement of accommodation and other facilities, which are necessary to ensure implementation of the roadmap;
  3. At the end of Step 2, the release of radioactive materials will be under control. At this stage, the Government will, following advices of the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, review the "Deliberate Evacuation Area" and the "Evacuation Prepared Area". Up until that time, the Government will consider the details of review criteria, and will decontaminate the widest possible area.

The situation does not allow for premature conclusions, but progress is being made steadily. The Government believes that the situation will be duly resolved within the period assumed under the roadmap.

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