Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered the remaining nuclear reactors at the wrecked Fukushima power plant to be scrapped.
Two of the reactors at the plant survived the 2011 tsunami which devastated the power plant, causing a meltdown and contamination of the air in the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
With ongoing problems of contaminated water leaking from the plant, and focus on Japan following their 2020 Olympic Games win, Abe has ordered that the surviving two reactors be decommissioned.
“One of the main purposes of this visit was to see it for myself, after I made those remarks on how the contaminated water has been handled,” he said during a visit to the plant today.
“In light of that, I will work hard to counter rumors questioning the safety of the Fukushima plant.
“In order for them to concentrate on this, I have directed them to decommission the No. 5 and No. 6 reactors that are now halted.”
The decision could leave operator Tokyo Electric in financial trouble, however. The company, which has posted losses of more than $27billion since the 2011 disaster, is negotiating a refinancing deal with Japanese banks due next month with its assets including the remaining Fukushima reactors and the plant at Kashiwazaki Kariwa.
Abe told reporters Tepco boss Naomi Hirose had promised to finish treating contaminated water at the plant by March 2015.
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