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Fukushima Daini Cooling Halted After Pump Malfunction Triggers Alarm

A cooling pump malfunction triggered an alarm at the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant, leading to the suspension of cooling for a spent fuel pool. Operator TEPCO reported no changes in radiation levels and is investigating the cause while working to restore the system. The pool's temperature currently provides an eight-day safety buffer before exceeding operational limits. This incident occurs at a facility being decommissioned since the 2011 disaster and alongside ongoing controversial wastewater discharges from the nearby Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Key Points: Fukushima Nuclear Plant Cooling Halted After Pump Malfunction

  • Cooling pump halted after smoke alarm
  • No change in radiation levels detected
  • 8-day safety buffer before temperature threshold
  • Part of plant decommissioning since 2011 disaster
  • Incident follows recent wastewater discharge operations
2 min read

Cooling halted at Japan's Fukushima Daini nuclear plant after pump malfunction

Cooling suspended at Fukushima Daini spent fuel pool after pump failure. No radiation change reported as TEPCO works to restore systems.

"Radiation levels around the nuclear plant have shown no change, and no injuries have been reported so far - TEPCO"

Tokyo, April 6

The operator of Japan's Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant, a facility currently being decommissioned, has said it suspended cooling of a spent fuel pool after a pump malfunction triggered an alert.

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) said an alarm for the spent fuel pool of the plant's No. 1 reactor went off at around 2:45 p.m. local time on Sunday. Workers shut down the pump after smoke was detected at the site, halting the pool's cooling system, reports Xinhua news agency.

Radiation levels around the nuclear plant have shown no change, and no injuries have been reported so far, TEPCO said, adding that it was investigating the cause of the malfunction and working to repair the pump as quickly as possible to restore cooling.

According to public broadcaster NHK, the pool water temperature stood at 26.5 degrees Celsius when the cooling system was halted, leaving about 8 days before it would exceed the 65-degree Celsius threshold set for safe operation.

The four-reactor Fukushima Daini plant sits about 12 km south of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, both of which were crippled by a massive earthquake and an ensuing tsunami in March 2011, prompting TEPCO to decommission both facilities.

Earlier on April 2, Japan began the first round of discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean in fiscal 2026.

The latest discharge is the 19th round of the ocean release since the operation began in August 2023, according to the plant's operator TEPCO.

In this round, set to run through April 20, about 7,800 tonnes of wastewater will be discharged, TEPCO said.

The utility plans to discharge a total of 62,400 tonnes of contaminated water in eight rounds in fiscal 2026, which began on Wednesday.

Hit by a 9-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

Despite opposition from local fishermen, residents and the international community, ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water began in August 2023. So far, approximately 141,000 tonnes of wastewater have been released into the sea.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The article mentions they have 8 days before the temperature becomes unsafe. Hopefully, TEPCO fixes it well before that. But the continuous ocean discharge is the bigger issue for me. Our fishermen in the Indian Ocean should be monitoring this closely. 🌊
A
Aman W
It's good that radiation levels haven't changed and no one is hurt. But "smoke was detected" is never a phrase you want to hear near a spent fuel pool, even if it's being decommissioned. Japan needs to be more transparent with the world about these incidents.
S
Sarah B
Reading this from an environmental perspective. The sheer volume of wastewater being planned for discharge—62,400 tonnes in a year—is staggering. The Pacific currents connect us all. This isn't just Japan's problem; it's a global ecological concern.
V
Vikram M
As an engineer, the technical response seems adequate—they detected it, shut it down, and have a buffer. But public trust is broken after 2011. Every small malfunction makes headlines for a reason. TEPCO has a long road to regain confidence. 🤞
K
Kavya N
My heart goes out to the local fishermen and residents who have opposed the water release. Their livelihoods and health are at stake. It's a reminder that development and energy needs must always be balanced with the welfare of people and nature. Jai Hind.

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