On Tuesday, 22 March 2011, Graham Andrew, Special Adviser to the IAEA Director General on Scientific and Technical Affairs; James Lyons, Director of Division of Nuclear Installation Safety;
Gerhard Proehl, Unit Head, Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit;
Denis Flory , Deputy Director, General Nuclear Safety and Security;
Elena Buglova, Acting Centre Head, Incident & Emergency Centre briefed both Member States and the media on the current status of nuclear safety in Japan.
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IAEA Briefing on Fukushima Nuclear Emergency (22 March 2011, 15.30 UTC)
1. Opening Remarks Technical Briefing (22/3/2011)
1. Current Situation
There continue to be some improvements at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, but
the overall situation remains very serious. High levels of contamination have been measured
in the locality of the plant.
On the Fukushima site the highest concern remains the spent fuel in the storage ponds of each
reactor unit, particularly Unit 4. Reactor Units1-3 remain of concern, in particular Unit 2.
We have not received validated information for some time related to the containment integrity
of Unit 1 so we are concerned that we do not know its exact status. Grey smoke was observed
from Unit 3 which led to the evacuation of plant personnel for several hours yesterday due to
elevated dose rates. In addition, white smoke or vapour was observed from Unit 2. Efforts
continue in Unit 2 to connect AC to pumps etc. Work for the recovery of off-site power
supply to Units 3 and 4 is also proceeding.
Seawater is being injected into the reactor vessels of Units 1, 2 and 3. Water is being sprayed
periodically into the spent fuel pools at Units 2, 3 and 4 but no information is available for
the spent fuel pool of Unit 1. The Agency still lacks data on water levels and temperatures in
the spent fuel pools at Units 1, 3 and 4.
There have been some positive developments concerning Units 5 and 6 that are in cold
shutdown: off-site power is now being used in Unit 5; the pressure of the reactor pressure
vessel of both units has decreased; and water is being injected in to the reactor pressure
vessel, as needed.
2. Radiation Monitoring
IAEA monitoring of gamma dose rates and beta-gamma contamination has continued over the
last 24 hours. This has been carried out together with the Japanese authorities to facilitate the
comparison of results.
The IAEA took measurements at additional locations between 35 to 68 km from the
Fukushima plant. The dose-rate results ranged from 0.8 to 9.1 microsieverts per hour. The
beta-gamma contamination measurements ranged from 0.08 to 0.9 MBq per square metre.
More precise interpretation of the results will be possible based on measurements to be made
of the composition of the radioactive material that has been released.
In the coming days the IAEA will have two monitoring teams in Japan. One team will be in
the Fukishima area and a separate team will undertake monitoring in Tokyo and the
surrounding area.
The Agency continues to receive data confirming high levels of radioactivity in food, notably
spinach, in samples taken from 37 locations in the vicinity of five cities south of the
Fukishima site. This indicates that in four Prefectures some food products are above
permissible levels. High levels of both Iodine-131 and Caesium-137 have been measured by
the Japanese authorities in spinach and some other fresh vegetables, together with Iodine-131
in milk. However, as reported yesterday, distribution of food from the areas affected has been
restricted. The Japanese authorities are monitoring the situation in the rest of the country.
Further monitoring data will be provided by Japan to the IAEA/FAO on an ongoing basis.
2. Japans Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has announced that contamination has
been found in sea water samples taken close to the outlet of the Fukushima Daiichi plant. We
have been informed by NISA about plans to monitor the marine environment.
3. Unit 1 2 3 4
Power (MWe /MWth) 460/1380 784/2381 784/2381 784/2381
Type of Reactor BWR-3 BWR-4 BWR-4 BWR-4
In service auto In service auto In service auto
Status at time of EQ Outage
shutdown shutdown shutdown
Core and fuel integrity Damaged Damaged Damaged No fuel in the Reactor
RPV & RCS integrity Unknown Unknown Unknown
Not applicable due to
Containment integrity No information Damage suspected No information outage plant status
AC Power available
AC Power Substation connected Not available Not available
Load check is ongoing
Building Severe damage Slight damage Severe damage Severe damage
Around half of Fuel is Around half of Fuel is Around half of Fuel is
Water level of RPV
uncovered (Stable) uncovered (Stable) uncovered (Stable)
Pressure of RPV Stabilized Unreliable Readings Decreased Not applicable due to
CV Pressure Drywell Stable Stable Decreased outage plant status
Water injection to RPV Seawater Seawater Seawater
Water injection to CV No information No information No information
Periodic spraying from Periodic spraying from Periodic spraying
Spent Fuel Pool Status No spraying reported
outside outside from outside
3/22/2011 07:00 AM
4. Unit 5 6
Power 784/2381 1100/3293
Type of Reactor BWR-4 BWR-5
Status at the EQ occurred Outage Outage
Core and Fuel Cold Shutdown Cold Shutdown Severe condition
RPV & RCS integrity Intact Intact
Containment int. No damage expected No damage expected Concern
AC Power Switched from emergency Emergency diesel
diesel to off-site power Off-site power being restored No immediate
concern
Building No damage reported No damage reported
Water level of RPV Above fuel Above fuel
Pressure of RPV Decreased Decreased
Containment Pressure No information No information
Water injection to RPV Water injection as needed via Water injection as needed via
the RHR system the RHR system
Water injection to CV Not needed now Not needed now
Spent Fuel Pool Status Cooling restored Cooling restored
3/22/2011 07:00 AM
5. Technical Briefing on the
Radiological Situation in Japan
22 March 2011
Division of Radiation Transport and Waste Safety
Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
6. Gamma dose rates after 15 March 2011 at selected
monitoring posts surrounding Daiichi NPP
Naturalbackground:
0.1microSv perhour
IAEA
InformationprovidedbyMEXTJapan