TEPCO may mothball reactors at world's biggest nuclear plant

'Mothball' implies that they may keep them preserved for a possible future restart. That is not decommissioning.

This plant has had many troubles and released radioactive steam on a few occasions. The first reactor was commissioned in 1985. The rest were commissioned in 1990 x 2, 1993, 1994, 1996 & 1997. The reactors are approaching or past 30 years of their 40 year commissioning. Japan really has failed with their nuclear power program. They built all these reactors and have failed to upgrade or replace the ageing ones. They have also failed to instigate any countermeasures or alternatives knowing full well the lifespan of nuclear reactors is limited. Their only solution so far is to extend the lifespan of the ageing reactors and relying on 40 year old technology to keep the country lit and keep the trains on the rails. The ridiculous amount of money invested in these plants and the stupid cost of decommissioning the reactors and storing the spent fuel makes it impossible for me to believe how they can keep stating nuclear power is cheap. Imagine what Japan could have achieved if all that money and manpower went into developing renewable energy sources. Japan could be a world leader in renewables instead of being internationally condemned for their mismanagement of their nuclear power program.

TepcoI doesn’t need to mothball anything -all the moths have perished!

So, Tepco "may" do something at some unspecified point in the future. Then again, they might not. In fact, they almost definitely won't.

This "promise" has no value whatsoever and it is an insult to the local people for Tepco to make it.

Looks like putting Solar Panels on my roof was a smart move.

is japan lacking power this much that they need this power ? there's so many safe ways to get power than this nuke powers, they never learned from what happen in Fukushima in all and it will happen again. i think in 50 years most of japan land will be locked down and no one can live there cuz of this nuke leak or an earth-quick that destroyed a power plant

Tepco will promise anything to get 6 & 7 back on line, despite the uncomfortable fault lines underneath. These two are the youngest reactors and the equipment has been largely repaired since the unexpectedly severe earthquake of 2007.

“After the 2007 earthquake suspicions arose that another fault line may be closer to the plant than originally thought, possibly running straight through the site.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashiwazaki-Kariwa_Nuclear_Power_Plant

Imagine what Japan could have achieved if all that money and manpower went into developing renewable energy sources. Japan could be a world leader in renewables instead of being internationally condemned for their mismanagement of their nuclear power program.

Exactly. Even if they took all that cashola and gave away solar panels for free would still be in use now and paying back society. Giving away solar panels say $1 billion worth a year would save more than that in generation costs

How many billions to build it?

The billions it took to build and maintain the plant is every yen against the success of renewable energy. If that were turned the other way, Japan wouldn't need to suck up to oil despotic nations

After Fukushima, safer types of energy production need to be considered.

Japan needs to embrace solar and wind. There is a huge upside to making the switch.

yes and with molten salt proven in other countries, saving energy overnight is easier than ever

There are plenty of energy engineers in Japan that can go to town on renewables if TEPCO and the Oyajis would get out of the way

Before you proceed anything else..

Please be concerned the situation of the residents in Fukushima (EVACUUES)