Japanese government's desperate measures to halt leak at Fukushima nuclear plant
Subterranean ice wall is costly and untested, but Tokyo knows it must act now over Fukushima
The Japanese government is to fund a costly, untested subterranean ice wall in a desperate step to stop leaks of radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant after repeated failures by the plant's operator.
The Fukushima plant has been leaking hundreds of tonnes of contaminated underground water into the sea since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Several leaks from tanks storing tainted water in recent weeks have heightened the sense of crisis that the utility's owner Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) is unable to contain the problem.
"Instead of leaving this up to Tepco, the government will step forward and take charge," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. "The world is watching if we can properly handle the contaminated water but also the entire decommissioning of the plant."
The government plans to spend an estimated 47 billion yen (HK$3.68 billion) by the end of next year on two projects - the ice wall and upgraded water treatment units supposed to remove all radioactive elements but tritium - according to energy agency official Tatsuya Shinkawa.
The government is not paying for urgently needed water tanks and other equipment that Tepco is using to stop leaks.