CRI听力: Expert: Japan Not to Copy Ukraine's Way of Sealing Nuclear Reactors

In the wake of the nuclear leakage from Japan's quake-hit Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex, some experts suggest sealing the nuclear reactor with concrete by following the way Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear complex was covered. But a Ukrainian expert warns that sealing the plant may not be effective.

CRI's Wei Tong has more.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex continues to leak radioactive materials, which have been polluting the local environment after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Some Japanese officials and experts have advised to sealing the entire nuclear reactor, like the way of Ukraine treated Chernobyl's nuclear wastes, whose blast is considered the world's most disastrous nuclear accident.

However, Ukainian nuclear expert Dmitri Pobro notes sealing the plant is not necessarily an effective way to prevent the leaking radioactive wastes.

"Compared with the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which was completely destroyed in the blast, the one in Fukushima is only partly damaged. On the other hand, unlike the Chernobyl's big fire which disrupted all of the nuclear fuel and equipment, Fukushima's nuclear reactors only emitted smoke. The plant's security protection system still remains intact. So there is not as much radioactive materials leaking as in Chernobyl."

Pobro says it is still too early to seal the Fukushima's nuclear plant since more needs to be done.

"Currently, Japan's nuclear crisis is still undergoing. I think it is more urgent to lower the temperature of nuclear reactors and prevent it from catching fire again. Not until all the risks in the nuclear plant are ruled out can we think about the next step, including sealing the reactors."

Pobro points out sealing nuclear reactors can stop radiated materials leaking but it is only temporarily effective. More advanced facilities and protection measures are necessary to prevent additional leakage.

Facing growing worry and panic among the public, some countries are rethinking about the necessity and feasibility of nuclear power. Pobro says the nuclear accident can give each country a lesson so that they will learn to take safer measures to harness nuclear power.
 
For CRI, I am Wei Tong.