Japan gov't to build USD470 million 'ice wall' to stop Fukushima leak

By Rizza Sta. Ana

Sep 03, 2013 09:58 AM EDT

In the efforts of stopping the radioactive leakage from the Fukushima nuclear plant, the state of Japan had pledged JPY47 billion or USD473 million to build an ice wall surrounding the plant. Yoshihide Suga, Japan government's spokesman, said, "(The government) felt it was essential to become involved to the greatest extent possible." 

Storage of large quantities of radioactive water was now an imminent challenge. An extra 400 tonnes of contaminated water per day is used to cool the reactors. The contaminated water is stored on the site. Around 300 tonnes of radioactive water leaked from one of the cooling tanks just last month.

Thr Fukushima nuclear plant got crippled in 2011 when seismic earthquakes and a tsunami knocked out its reactors' cooling systems. Three of the cooling systems had melted down. Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, has been pumping water to cool the remaining reactors. 

The government of Japan bared its plan to build a frozen earth wall around the remaining reactors by utilizing coolant pipes. The pipes would prevent groundwater to come into contact with the radioactive water, a by-product from cooling fuel rods. The fund would also be spent to upgrade the water treatment systems to address the buildup of contaminated water. 

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