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Japan doubles cost estimate for Fukushima clean-up

TOKYO — A Japanese government panel says an estimate of the total costs to clean up the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant has doubled to nearly ¥22 trillion (S$270 billion), with decommissioning costs expected to continue to rise.

A worker in a protective suit and mask, taking notes in front of storage tanks for radioactive water at tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town,  Japan in Feb 10, 2016. Photo: Reuters

A worker in a protective suit and mask, taking notes in front of storage tanks for radioactive water at tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Japan in Feb 10, 2016. Photo: Reuters

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TOKYO — A Japanese government panel says an estimate of the total costs to clean up the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant has doubled to nearly ¥22 trillion (S$270 billion), with decommissioning costs expected to continue to rise.

The estimate released on Friday (Dec 9) raises the decommissioning part of the total costs to ¥8 trillion from the current ¥2 trillion because of surging labour and construction costs. Panel officials said the numbers could grow as experts learn more about the damage to the plant’s reactors and determine fuel removal methods. Costs for compensation, decontamination of the area and waste storage have also grown significantly.

The plant suffered multiple meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Officials said its decommissioning will take several decades. AP

 

 

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