Japanese Prime Minister orders Fukushima plant to close last two nuclear reactors

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered the operator of the country's crippled nuclear power plant yesterday to scrap all six reactors at the site instead of just four already slated for decommissioning and to concentrate on tackling pressing issues like radioactive water leaks.

After taking a first-hand look at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, however, Abe insisted that radiation-contaminated water had been contained at the complex and said he would fend off "rumours" about Fukushima's safety.

Following a three-hour tour of the plant, Abe instructed its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., to decommission the number five and six reactors, which survived the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The disaster caused three other reactors to melt and damaged a fuel cooling pool at another. Tepco has been unsure about what to do with the two surviving reactors, leading some to believe that it may be still be hanging on to hopes of keeping them alive.

"I told [Tepco] to ensure decommissioning of reactors number five and six so that they can concentrate more on dealing with the accident," Abe told workers and reporters as he wrapped up the tour at the plant's emergency command centre.

Tepco President Naomi Hirose told Abe that a decision on the reactors would be made by the end of the year, the prime minister said.

Abe said that he urged Tepco to ensure it has enough funding to take care of urgent work needed to clear the way for the plant's decommissioning, and that Hirose promised to obtain one trillion yen (HK$78 billion).

The prime minister said he stood by the reassurance about Tokyo's safety that he gave to the International Olympic Committee before the city of 35 million was awarded the right to host the 2020 summer games earlier this month.