TV: Fukushima could be out of control for next 100 years, says nuclear expert — “Facing a huge problem” — Very, very serious threat from M6 quake — “Scary situation” (VIDEO)
Source: Al Jazeera
Date: September 1, 2013
At 1:30 in
Imad Khadduri, nuclear power expert: It’s a problem, a big problem. They have 1,060 of them [tanks] and apparently, they’ve been there for 2 years, and some of them have rusted or they are leaking, and that’s a lot to look after. But the point is that it’s within the plant, it’s not outside the plant – except it’s going into the sea, into the Pacific Ocean. The only people that have suffered is the fisherman, because the levels of contaminated fish last week has risen […]
Host: This shows that the problem is not really under control, doesn’t it?
Khadduri: It will not be under control, it’s estimated between 40 and 100 years from now. That’s what experts estimate. Now in the case of Russia — Chernobyl they simply buried the whole plant, one plant with cement, like a like a tomb […]
Host: The idea of something sitting there for 40-100 years, another major catastrophe could unfold because of another, I don’t know, natural disaster, another meltdown.
Khadduri: Well if there is another earthquake the serious one 6, 7, 8, or 9 magnitude, that would rattle all these tanks — 1,060 tanks — it would rattle the damaged cores, spent fuel whose structures have already weakened, yes that’s a potential very, very serious threat if another strong earthquake hits the same area again.
Host: It looks like foreign help is being invited now to come and deal with this. Will that at all speed up your very scary timeline of 40-100 years?
Khadduri: […] they are facing a huge problem — difficult, a very difficult problem to solve and I don’t know how much bright new ideas they might throw in, it’s yet unknown.
Host: Scary situation.
Khadduri: Yes.
