Fukushima’s Decommissioning Process: Another Setback as Tanks Show Corrosion

In March, during a routine inspection of the decommissioned Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, tanks used to store treated radioactive water were discovered to be corroded and peeling. The operator, Tepco, has confirmed that the tanks’ structural integrity is not compromised. However, some older tanks installed over a decade ago are showing signs of corrosion. Despite this, Tepco plans to continue inspecting all tanks on the premises.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was severely damaged in 2011 due to a massive tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9 earthquake. The decommissioning process of the plant is ongoing but is expected to take several decades. In August 2023, Tepco started releasing treated wastewater into the sea, despite opposition from local fishermen and China. According to Tepco and the IAEA, all radioactive elements, except for tritium, have been filtered out of the water. Tritium is present in negligible amounts and is considered harmless by these authorities.

Treatments of tanks containing treated water are carried out annually to detect any abnormalities since it is impossible to inspect their interiors without the use of underwater robots.