Japanese cabinet secretary suggests scrapping Fukushima plant

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED March 31, 2011

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said on Wednesday it was time to start thinking about closing down all six reactors at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, the director of the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) which owns the plant, said earlier on Wednesday that the first four reactors would have to be closed down.

''We have no choice but to scrap reactors 1-4 if we look at their conditions objectively," Katsumata said.

All six reactors were badly damaged after a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck eastern Japan on March 11. Reactors No. 5 and 6 reactors have been less problematic than the other four and are already in a state of cold shutdown, Kyodo said.

''Unfortunately, some time is needed before the situation can be brought under control and we can be sure that people are safe from radiation,'' Edano said.

Japanese Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda said earlier on Wednesday that the country's nuclear power stations would be closed if they did not meet tougher safety requirements being drawn up by the government.

Topics: NPP Fukushima Daiichi

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