Japan to discuss costly scrapping of Fukushima plant

TOKYO (AA) – Japan’s government will set up a panel of experts to discuss plans for a multi-billion dollar process of scrapping the Fukushima nuclear power plant damaged by the 2011 disaster, according to the country’s industry minister Tuesday.

Local news agency Kyodo quoted Hiroshige Seko as saying that the panel, which will also discuss reforms at the plant’s operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., will convene early next month and draft proposals by the end of 2016.

On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami damaged four reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, melting the cores in three of them.

The disaster had devastated the country’s northeastern region, leaving 15,894 people dead and 2,561 others missing and presumed dead.

More than 150,000 people were forced to leave their homes, around 100,000 of who remain evacuees five years later.

According to Kyodo, the process of scrapping the plant is expected to far exceed the 2 trillion yen ($19.6 billion) estimated initially.

Seko said Tuesday that Tokyo Electric, which has been receiving financial aid from the government to assist with expenses from the cleanup of contaminated areas and compensation to those affected, plans to revise its business plan.