Other
- +18
James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …
{
"authors": [
"James M. Acton"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "NPP",
"programs": [
"Nuclear Policy"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"East Asia",
"Japan"
],
"topics": [
"Nuclear Policy",
"Nuclear Energy"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Japanese Containment Vessel at Nuclear Reactor 2 May Be Breached
The damage done to Japan’s nuclear reactors by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami should prompt the nuclear industry to reevaluate the magnitude of natural disasters that the reactors should be designed to survive.
Published on Mar 15, 2011
Source: MSNBC
When Japan experienced an earthquake of magnitude 8.9 on March 11, its nuclear reactors at the Daiichi plant in Fukushima automatically shut down, as it was designed to. However, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami were more devastating than the reactors were built to withstand. Water pumps designed to cool the fuel rods in the reactor cores were supposed to be supplied with external power lines, with a back-up of diesel generators. Both of these mechanisms were wiped out by the earthquake and tsunami. Speaking on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, Carnegie’s James Acton explained that reactor cores as well as spent fuel rods, which are stored in water pools adjacent to the reactors, remained hot. The water in those pools must be replaced and recirculated so that it does not overheat, exposing the spent fuel and thereby releasing radiation, Acton said. He emphasizes that reactors can weather disasters that they are designed to survive. Accordingly, this crisis should prompt a reevaluation of the magnitude of earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and other hazards reactors could face.
About the Author
James M. Acton
Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program
Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
- Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
- Trump Has an Out on Nuclear Testing. He Should Take It.Commentary
James M. Acton
Recent Work
Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie India
- On Thin Ice: Bhutan’s Diplomatic Challenge Amid the India-China Border DisputeCommentary
This piece examines the strategic implications of Bhutan’s diplomatic efforts amid its border dispute with China, highlighting the thin ice it walks on to achieve a resolution without compromising its vital relationships.
Shibani Mehta
- A Quad Initiative on Digital Public InfrastructureCommentary
With India set to host the sixth Quad Leaders' Summit in 2024, there is every opportunity for this minilateral to not only develop a DPI initiative but also execute pilots in the Indo-Pacific. This essay shares a rationale for how the four Quad countries could achieve this goal.
Rudra Chaudhuri, Aadya Gupta
- India’s Quest for Advanced Technology in the Era of Export ControlsCommentary
How can India navigate export control measures at a time when it is also entering into technology-centric partnerships with other nations to secure enhanced access to advanced technology?
Konark Bhandari
- Impasse at the LAC: An Examination of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 StandoffsArticle
This article examines the significance of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 border standoffs between India and China. It presents a detailed account of the border crises and how the two countries tried to manage them.
Shibani Mehta
- China and India Aren’t Reaching a Strategic DétenteCommentary
Contrary to some recent analyses, this commentary explains why a strategic détente between India and China is unlikely.
Saheb Singh Chadha
