Fukushima's ground zero: No place for man or robot

And authorities still don’t how to dispose of highly radioactive water stored in an ever mounting number of tanks around the site.

It is extremely difficult to access the inside of the nuclear plant,”

Ok, so they can't get access to the spent fuel rods nor can they find anywhere to get rid of the nuclear waste EVEN if they could. That tells me they need to shut down ALL the reactors until TEPCO AND the J Gov and figure out what the hell is going on. Another nuclear disaster no matter how minor at this stage can bring the whole nation to its knees. They need to stop ALL the reactors until the industry can demonstrate that they are somewhat competant.

TEPCO, which was fiercely criticised for its handling of the disaster, says conditions at the Fukushima power station, site of the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in Ukraine 30 years ago, have improved dramatically. Radiation levels in many places at the site are now as low as those in Tokyo.

Says TEPCO? I am now going to sue you for a new computer as I spit my AM coffee on the keyboard!

No place for man or robot

But fully under control and will be fixed by 2020.

The robots sent in to find highly radioactive fuel at Fukushima’s nuclear reactors have “died”; a subterranean “ice wall” around the crippled plant meant to stop groundwater from becoming contaminated has yet to be finished. And authorities still don’t know how to dispose of highly radioactive water stored in an ever mounting number of tanks around the site.

How could this be? The great leader Abe told the whole world "it was under control" two years ago. Was it just a lie to secure the Olympics? (sarcasm)

Where is Superman when you need him!?

He could gather the whole lot in a big net and toss it into the sun.

…..Job done!

No place for man or robot

it is the promise of what TEPCO and current govt will deliver.

Didn't you get the memo guys? Nuclear is safe... TEPCO and the government said so.

Ok, so they can't get access to the spent fuel rods nor can they find anywhere to get rid of the nuclear waste EVEN if they could. That tells me they need to shut down ALL the reactors until TEPCO AND the J Gov and figure out what the hell is going on. Another nuclear disaster no matter how minor at this stage can bring the whole nation to its knees. They need to stop ALL the reactors until the industry can demonstrate that they are somewhat competant.

Agreed. They need to stop before they make another mess...

He could gather the whole lot in a big net and toss it into the sun.

This is not as stupid as it sounds. It has actually been hypothesised as a way of disposing of nuclear waste.

clueless quote: "He could gather the whole lot in a big net and toss it into the sun."

+Disillusioned

My roomate's father who worked at Westinghouse told me of such an idea back when I was at college around 1970. Forty-five years ago! Well, by rocket though. He pointed out however, that there was always a danger of such rockets exploding while still in the earth's atmosphere.

Nowadays there are too many NPPs and too much waste for much of it to be sent up economically by rockets.

Scary that radiation affects the robots like that - a development that nuclear energy planners might take special note of, and nuclear power supporters be made well aware of.

Nuclear waste into the sun probably should be an option to be explored. It's not like anybody really wants it here on Earth, at all!

Note that the plant manager is only concerned about criticism of the government if word gets out about waste leaking into the sea. Nothing about being worried about environmental damage. Honestly I think these guys have some second planet they all are going to head to and are keeping it a secret from us. Every effort should be being made to stop radioactive waste going in the sea. Stop construction of hotels and stadiums and train lines for the Olympics. Focus resources on this please

The area is so safe ( remember Abe saying that to the world?) that machines can only operate for a few minutes!!!! I would hate to hear the definition of what unsafe is.......

The Russian's may have got it right:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/04/27/science/chernobyl-capping-a-catastrophe.html?_r=0