U.S. Military to Pump Water to Cool Fukushima Nuclear Plant
U.S. military ships will transport large amounts of fresh water to cool reactors and spent nuclear fuel pools at the crisis-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Friday.
Kitazawa told a news conference the United States has strongly urged that fresh water be used early in place of seawater because salt in seawater causes corrosion of equipment at the nuclear plant.
Two large barges will reach the port of Onahama, some 60 kilometers away from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in about three days, Kitazawa added.
Each of the vessels, set to depart the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka base shortly, can carry up to 1,000 tons of water.