Who should be responsible for the Japan explosive hydrogen gas - Essay Example

? (Assignment) Who should be Responsible for the Japan Explosive Hydrogen Gas? Introduction The Tohoku earthquake orthe Great East Japan Earthquake was one of the most devastating disasters in the history of the Japan. As Black and Amos report in BBC News, the earthquake with 8.9 magnitudes struck the eastern cost of the Japan on 11th March 2011 and it was followed by a dreadful Tsunami that caused inestimable loss across the country. In addition to tragic loss of life, infrastructure, and crops, the impact of the subsequent disasters still persist with Japan’s oil refineries and nuclear power plants. This paper will examine the impacts of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the country’s nuclear plants with regard to the nation’s nuclear power policies and political environment. Impacts on nuclear plants As a result of the high magnitude earthquake, Japan’s nuclear power plants including Fukushima I, Fukushima II, Tokai nuclear power stations, and Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant containing eleven reactors were automatically shut down. The diesel backup power systems of the Fukushima I and II nuclear power plants were destroyed when the Tsunami waves overtopped seawalls (Lijaz). It led to other severe issues including radioactive leakage and three large explosions at Fukushima I. In order to save people from dreadful effects, the government evacuated more than 200,000 people from the region. The April 7 aftershock greatly added to the crises as it hampered the external power supply to Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant and Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (Lijaz). Three of four external power lines to Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant were destroyed and it led to the damage of cooling function for 80 minutes. In addition, a couple liters of radioactive water leaked at Onagawa. Gunther Oettinger, the Europe’s energy commissioner stated that the nuclear disaster was an ‘apocalypse’. Nuclear experts unanimously opine that Fukushima I is the ever worst and complicated nuclear disaster. As Lijaz reports in Jago News, the disaster damaged the cooling system at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant; hence the radiation level inside the plant rose up to 1,000 time normal levels. In addition, scientists stated that the radiation level outside the plant was up to 8 times normal levels (Jago News). The condition of Fukushima II was also not satisfactory; hence, the disaster produced 6 problematic reactors in the country. Scientists detected radioactive iodine in the tap water in Fukushima, Toshigi, Chiba, Tokyo, Saitama, and Niigata whereas radioactive cesium was detected in the tap water in Fukushima, Tochigi, and Gunma; it was one of the most dreadful implications of the Great East Japan Earthquake. As per reports, the disaster caused failure in electricity supply and hence 4.4 million people were left without electricity in northeastern Japan. The severity of the catastrophe stopped operation of several nuclear and conventional power plants which in turn reduced TEPCO’s total capacity by 21 GW. As a result, the country was forced to declare rolling blackouts on 14th March. The Tokyo Electric Power Company announced that it could not provide more than 30 GW; it normally used to supply 40 GW of electricity. Presently, the TEP cannot supply additional power to the Kanto region since the power plants of the TEP were also damaged in the earthquake. In order to alleviate the electricity shortage in the country, most of the industrial concerns have trimmed down their power usage. Followed by the Tsunami and major earthquake, hydrogen explosions occurred at some of the reactors and that increased the dreadfulness of the situation. The high power of the explosion damaged a number of buildings around the reactor. The nuclear scientists identified that the zirconium from disintegrating fuel rods reacted with steam in the absence of cooling water and this process resulted in the emission of hydrogen. As a result of vehement efforts taken by engineers and other workers, the reactors could be gradually cooled. This process lessened the presence of steam in the containment and caused explosions since the decreased steam presence allowed oxygen to enter and react with hydrogen. Why Japan still depends on nuclear energy? It seems that Japan is still depending on nuclear plant despite the experts’ warning. Evidently the increased levels of energy needs and absence of alternative potential energy resources compels the country to continue with its nuclear plant operations. Japan has been using nuclear energy as a potential energy resource since 1973 as it can efficiently meet the increasing energy needs this way. The dependence on nuclear plants has assisted the country to minimize its fuel imports which had been accounted for the nation’s 61% of energy production. In addition, no potential alternative to nuclear energy has been discovered in Japan. Hydrogen plant is another potential alternative to nuclear plants, but it also dangerous in Japan’s geographical conditions. Japan has already invested a huge amount in the nuclear energy sector and therefore, sudden shut down would cause extreme losses. These are the reasons why Japan continues its nuclear plant operations despite the mounting concern about nuclear plants’ ability to withstand seismic activity. Japan and American nuclear plants Japan use American nuclear plants instead of German one. Japan’s post WW II political spectrum largely contributed to the acquisition of nuclear energy from America. The severe impacts of the WW II forced Japan officials to determine that the nation should attain independent energy resources of its own. Evidently, the formation of the post war democratic government in Japan was the initiative of the United States. Although by 1952 Japan was restored as an individual state, the American presence continued to be the major influence on its all political decisions. Eventually Japan signed several nuclear deals with America and that normally forced the country to depend on American nuclear plants. It was less likely for Japan to get in deal with Germany as it was America’s major foe in the war. Regardless of the pre war conditions, Japan turned to be the best ally for the United States’ trade and international relations. However, scientists have discovered that American nuclear technology cannot efficiently defend the hydrogen explosion in Japan. It is evident that Japan’s overdependence on American nuclear plants increased the severity of the nuclear disaster in Japan. Conclusion In short, the disaster as a whole has dreadfully affected nearly six nuclear plants of Japan and it resulted in the massive evacuation and other related issues. Even though Japan’s nuclear plants raise serious threats to the country, Japan still operates nuclear plants in order to address its energy challenges. As discussed earlier, the paucity of alternative energy resources is the major impediments to Japan’s energy experiments. The persisting trouble could be attributed to the political environment to a certain extent as it largely depends on American plants which are little apt to the nation’s geographical conditions. Works Cited Black, Richard and Amos, Jonathan. “What Chance of a ‘Big One’ in Tokyo?”. BBC Science & Environment, March 21, 2011. Web 12 June 2011http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12792943 Lijaz, Aymen. “2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Post-Scenario in Japan”. Jago News, May 11, 2011. 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