Edition

Why the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Was Preventable

IN THIS ISSUE: Why Fukushima was preventable, Netanyahu and Obama still divided over Iran, EU's Ashton proposes new nuclear talks with Iran, Pakistan test fires nuclear capable ballistic missile, Syria tells IAEA of "delicate situation," proposed global laser enrichment plant.

Published on March 6, 2012
 

Why Fukushima Was Preventable

James M. Acton and Mark Hibbs | Carnegie paper

Fukushima

Public sentiment in many states has turned against nuclear energy following the March 2011 accident at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The large quantity of radioactive material released has caused significant human suffering and rendered large stretches of land uninhabitable. The cleanup operation will take decades and may cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

The Fukushima accident was, however, preventable. Had the plant's owner, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and Japan's regulator, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), followed international best practices and standards, it is conceivable that they would have predicted the possibility of the plant being struck by a massive tsunami. The plant would have withstood the tsunami had its design previously been upgraded in accordance with state-of-the-art safety approaches. Full Article



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