Priorities: Bid to 'Protect Assets' Slowed Reactor Fight

[Wilms]

Bid to 'Protect Assets' Slowed Reactor Fight

Wall Street Journal - Monday, March 21, 2011

TOKYO—Crucial efforts to tame Japan's crippled nuclear plant were delayed by concerns over damaging valuable power assets and by initial passivity on the part of the government, people familiar with the situation said, offering new insight into the management of the crisis.

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Tepco was reluctant to use seawater because it worried about hurting its long-term investment in the complex, say people involved with the efforts. Seawater, which can render a nuclear reactor permanently inoperable, now is at the center of efforts to keep the plant under control.

Tepco "hesitated because it tried to protect its assets," said Akira Omoto, a former Tepco executive and a member of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, an official advisory body involved in the effort to tame the plant. Both Tepco and government officials had good reason not to use saltwater, Mr. Omoto added. Early on, nuclear fuel rods were still under cooling water and undamaged, he said, adding, "it's understandable because injecting seawater into the fuel vessel renders it unusable."

Tepco spokesman Hiro Hasegawa said the company, "taking the safety of the whole plant into consideration, was trying to judge the appropriate timing to use seawater."

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704608504576207912642629904.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_News_BlogsModule


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A few days ago, I was wondering about this given the reports that TEPCO feared the plant would have to be scrapped if seawater was used. That seemed outrageous. Then, I wondered if the corrosive damage to the plant would prevent the ability to cool, a necessary function whether or not the plant could be salvaged.

This report suggest my initial impulse was correct. Perhaps someone here can offer some insight into the issue.