The Great East Japan Earthquake

Press Conference

Press Conference by the Defense Minister (11:11-11:26 A.M. March 25, 2011)

Press Conference by the Defense Minister
Time & Date: 11:11-11:26 A.M. March 25, 2011
Place: Press Conference Room, Ministry of Defense (MOD)

(This is a provisional translation of an announcement by the Defense Minister and the Q&A session at the subsequent press conference for reference purposes only)
The original text is in Japanese.

1. Announcements

None

2. Questions and Answers

Question:
I believe that Japan and the United States are currently discussing concrete plans for cooperative work at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Please tell us about the state of discussions.

Minister:
With the work at the power plant being so extremely important, the U.S. military has offered to provide full support. The Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces (SDF) as well are currently exerting their full power to respond to the situation at the plant. Each ministry and agency of both governments are now working out various plans. The Ministry of Defense is in particular making its own plans for a Military-to-Military response. Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Ryoichi Oriki is working on this, and will report the result to the Headquarters for Emergency Disaster Response. The Chief of Staff may directly report to the Prime Minister via the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management, as needed.

Question:
Have any concrete work plans been decided upon at this point in time?

Minister:
Ambassador John V. Roos and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have expressed great interest in the nuclear issue, and as a result, as I just stated, we are in discussions with the U.S. Military and will be receiving their full support. We are discussing with the members of the NRC on ascertaining the situation at the power plant. We are having individual discussions on specific matters, but to give one example, we are receiving many different instruments from the U.S.-side. I would like to discuss these matters thoroughly at the appropriate time.

Question:
Related to that, while I believe it is hard to make any predictions regarding the nuclear situation, with the introduction of concrete water pumps I believe that the water-spraying activities are now progressing smoothly. What is your opinion on what may be called an exit strategy for nuclear disaster response from the perspective of the SDF?

Minister:
Exit strategy is something that must be considered by the Headquarters for Emergency Disaster Response rather than by us. I think that our priority is still responding to everyday situations rather than working out an exit strategy. On the other hand, since power is now being restored to the reactor, to recover the functionality of the plant, it is true that we are taking a step forward toward making an exit. Accordingly, we are watching the situation from the sky, taking measurements, and while measuring the radiation in the surrounding area, making daily decisions on how to respond. Also, I'll say it again, but currently we are focusing on work to restore the functionality of the power plant. We have had to implement two simultaneous operations for our work on disaster relief, and our work at the power plant has split into two operations as well.

Question:
In relation to that, the U.S. Military has said that it would like to prepare and provide fresh water to help with work to cool the reactors. Is there the possibility that the SDF or Japanese Government will request such assistance?

Minister:
That was an extremely sudden proposal by the U.S.-side, and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) as well has stated that we must switch to using fresh water, that if we continue to use seawater it will leave salt residue in the reactors and damage them. The U.S. side has expressed great concern on this matter, and strongly requested that we switch to using fresh water immediately in order to prevent the degradation of plant equipment. Basically, up until the disaster we had been pulling water from the Sakashita Dam next to the power plant, and we will continue to hasten to resume this moving forward. However, given the extent of damage, there is the possibility that we will not be able to secure water from this area. That is why we are now trying to have a U.S. barge sent from Yokosuka Navy Base via Onahama to make up for the water which we cannot pull out of the dam area. After that, and in connection to this, the United States has purchased a pump system from Australia which they will provide to Japan. The barge will be carrying a lot of water, but once this water runs out, it will be replenished by replenishment ships used as backup. I gave orders on this just this morning, but it seems that it will take two days for the barge to arrive in Onahama. Some training exercises will be carried out at Onahama, and from there the barge will go to the power plant. The length of the journey should take about half a day. In total, it will take the barge about three days to arrive at the power plant.

Question:
In relation to that, will the barge be towed, or will the U.S. Military steer it to the plant, or will the SDF commandeer it?

Minister:
The barge is a vessel of the United States.

Question:
Will it be towed by the SDF?

Minister:
Yes. We will use the AMS HIUCHI-class ship Hiuchi.

Question:
And the pump will be operated by TEPCO?

Minister:
That's hard to say. We need to work out what to do with the pump. Principally, we need to have TEPCO handle it, but we will see what happens during training in Onahama. We need to make sure that it is of a proper size. The SDF is prepared to take charge of the pump if need be.

Question:
And it will be sprayed not at the spent fuel pools but the reactors themselves?

Minister:
Yes.

Question:
When are you aiming for this operation to begin?

Minister:
It will take about three days for the barge to arrive on the scene, so I don't think we will be able to do it for at least that time. In three days the barge will get set up, and on the forth day water spraying will begin.

Question:
So around Monday or Tuesday of next week?

Minister:
That is correct. There are physical time constraints. Within these, we will do everything we can to begin the operation as soon as possible.

Question:
Is the water off the coast of the power plant deep enough for a ship to get close?

Minister:
That is something which we are currently asking the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to do something about, as we have not been there.

Question:
Who will receive training, TEPCO employees or SDF personnel?

Minister:
I may be wrong, but the SDF is going there with the intent of receiving training. I believe that TEPCO employees will probably attend as well. Given that the issue involves radiation, in principle TEPCO employees should handle it. However, if doing so would mean delays, we are prepared to take charge of this operation.

Question:
Am I correct in understanding that the replenishment ships will be piloted by the SDF?

Minister:
They are SDF ships. The barge will move to the site full of water, and sprayed the water onto the plant until it is empty. At that point we will move in to replenish it.

Question:
Concerning compensation for the SDF personnel dealing with the nuclear incident, I have heard that for example, if they die in the line of duty their families receive between 60 million and 90 million yen, and if they are injured they receive between 60.4 and 75.6 million yen. Now I hear that this will be multiplied by 1.5?

Minister:
Originally 60 million yen was given to the families of the deceased, but the Iraq Special Measures Law raised this to 90 million yen. Yesterday, on March 24, we amended the ordinance on compensation, and have decided that the amendments shall apply to everyone dispatched within the Nuclear Emergency Relief Team on March 11.

Question:
What is the reason for doing this?

Minister:
It is of course because they are risking their lives to fulfill their duty. I believe that they deserve the maximum amount of money Japan can give them for that duty. This is something I have discussed with the Prime Minister, and we decided to implement it as soon as possible.

Question:
A moment ago you spoke about water and the possibility of salt residue causing damage to the reactors. I would like to ask about what you think the possibility of such damage still occurring is if seawater continues to be used?

Minister:
I am not really an expert on this, but it does seem that if we use salt water it will inevitably leave residue in the power plant, and I have heard that this will cause damage.

(END)