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Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido is using emergency generators, due to earthquake

Tomari nuclear plant using emergency generators, Japan’s nuclear regulatory body says the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido is using emergency generators to cool fuel after the region was hit by a powerful earthquake.

The plant’s operator Hokkaido Electric Power Company says all 3 channels from outside power sources were cut off about 20 minutes after the quake struck early Thursday.

The plant’s 3 reactors are all currently offline, with a total of 1,527 fuel assemblies in its storage pools.

Following the quake, 6 emergency diesel-powered generators automatically switched on to cool the nuclear fuel. No changes in storage pool water levels or temperature have been reported. The Nuclear Regulation Authority and Hokkaido Electric say it is not yet clear when outside power sources will be restored, with all thermal power plants in Hokkaido currently shut down.

The emergency generators will be able to keep the Tomari plant running for at least 7 days, based on diesel fuel supplies stored on its premises.

They added that the earthquake did not seem to cause any irregularities in key plant facilities and radiation monitoring posts have shown no change.

September 6, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, safety