Japan plans to fix reactors in nine months

TEPCO, operator of Japan's quake-hit nuclear plant, aims to bring damaged reactors to a stable condition known as ''cold shutdown'' in about six to nine months. At a news conference in Tokyo, TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata announced the company's schedule for bringing the nuclear power plant under control, while offering an apology for the ongoing nuclear crisis, Kyodo news agency reported. Japan plans to fix reactors in nine months The TEPCO management also intends to restore stable cooling to the reactors and spent fuel pools in about three months, the agency said. TEPCO has also announced it needs three months to achieve ''steady reduction'' in radiation, and an additional three to six months to control radioactive emissions and curb radiation substantially, the agency reported. It said it was addressing the immediate challenges of preventing hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 to 3 reactors and emission of water contaminated with high-level radiation from the No. 2 reactor. It also said it will put special covers on the heavily damaged buildings of the No. 1, 3 and 4 reactors. Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was seriously damaged by the powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11. Fukushima's operator has since been struggling to stop radioactive leaks from the plant's crippled reactors. Fukushima nuclear power plant before and after the tsunami (Beta, file)

Japan plans to fix reactors in nine months

The TEPCO management also intends to restore stable cooling to the reactors and spent fuel pools in about three months, the agency said.

TEPCO has also announced it needs three months to achieve ''steady reduction'' in radiation, and an additional three to six months to control radioactive emissions and curb radiation substantially, the agency reported.

It said it was addressing the immediate challenges of preventing hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 to 3 reactors and emission of water contaminated with high-level radiation from the No. 2 reactor.

It also said it will put special covers on the heavily damaged buildings of the No. 1, 3 and 4 reactors.

Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was seriously damaged by the powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11. Fukushima's operator has since been struggling to stop radioactive leaks from the plant's crippled reactors.