Ex-Fukushima Daiichi Worker: “There are leaks everywhere” — Tepco portraying situation in best possible light

Tepco's motto:  We may be small, but we're slow!  And overly optimistic.  ENENEWS:


Title: In Japan, a nuclear ghost town stirs to life

Source: NBC News
Author: Kyle Drubek
Date: July 26, 2012


[...]

Takahashi Kei, a former cooling system worker at the plant now working as a radiation survey volunteer, said [Tepco's] executives are portraying the situation in the best possible light.


“There are leaks everywhere, wreckage too. It’s not as simple as they portray,” he said.
[...]
TEPCO acknowledges that three reactors at the plant remain full of melted and re-solidified fuel that must be removed and that spent fuel pools elsewhere on the grounds must be kept cool to prevent them from releasing radiation again. It estimates it will take about 40 years to completely decommission the site.
[...]
40 years?  Again with the optimism..

Uh-Oh: Former Japanese Industry Minister Admits Fukushima's Beyond Bad

All quotes from Banri Kaieda, Japan's Industry Minister during and after the Fukushima event.  Presented here these two stories from ENews regarding his recent testimony. Japan’s Ex-Industry Minister: Neutron radiation is degenerating reactors — Admits he was playing a role when saying nuclear plants were safe, and Former Top Official at Hearing: Told that all 6 Fukushima reactors would ‘explode’ if workers left plant — Entire eastern Japan might be lost.  Chilling.

[...]

In June, [Banri Kaieda, the industry minister during the early stages of the Fukushima nuclear accident,] declared that nuclear power plants were safe and said he would approve the restarts of nuclear power plants, with the exception of the Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.


But [yesterday May 17, 2012] he told the Diet investigation panel that he did not believe all plants were problem-free, partly because reactors degenerate due to neutron radiation.


Still, he defended his decision to allow operations to resume at nuclear plants, saying he had a “role to play as industry minister.”
[...]
Kaieda said on May 17 that [Tepco Chairman Tsunehisa] Shimizu told him on the phone that TEPCO would evacuate from the Fukushima No. 1 plant to the Fukushima No. 2 plant. [...]
Kaieda asked industry ministry officials what would happen if all TEPCO employees deserted the plant. Kaieda said he was told: “It would be disastrous because not only the No. 1 to No. 4 reactors but also the No. 5 and No. 6 reactors would explode.”


Kaieda then discussed the issue with other Cabinet ministers who were at the prime minister’s office. He said they reached the conclusion: “A (total) withdrawal would lead to a disaster, in which the entire eastern Japan might be lost. We have to ask workers at the plant to hang in there although we feel sorry for them.”
[...]
There.  He admitted he lied, and said TEPCO feels sorry for the workers.  Don't you feel better now?