Recently, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disclosed about the presence of corrosion inside the radioactive water storage tank after the treatment of the storage stored in the facility, raising concerns about the structural integrity of the tank.
According to British media on April 21, TEPCO Holdings revealed that although there is no problem with the structural strength of the tanks, some of the more than 1,000 containers in the plant have been installed for more than 10 years and have aged over time.
A TEPCO official said the operator would continue to carry out inspections of the tanks. Given that it is currently not possible to inspect the inside of tanks filled with treated water, in addition to the use of underwater robots, TEPCO conducts annual external inspections to detect any anomalies. TEPCO said the thickness of the steel plates of the tank, which is more than 10 years old, has been measured using ultrasound to assess its strength.
In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear accident, controversy arose over the release of treated tritium-containing water into the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese government and TEPCO said the treated water released from the Fukushima plant had been diluted, and tritium levels had fallen to less than 1/40 of the national safety standard.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have raised further concerns about the stability of Japan's crude oil procurement and supply. As the world's fourth-largest consumer of crude oil, Japan is highly dependent on imported crude oil, especially from the Middle East. The recent conflict between Iran and Israel has further highlighted the vulnerability of Japan's energy security to geopolitical instability.
Shunichi Kito, president of the Japan Petroleum Association (PAJ), stressed the importance of maintaining a flexible approach to crude oil procurement in the face of geopolitical uncertainty.
"If there is any disruption in the supply of crude oil, it is important to be prepared and use the oil reserves flexibly to ensure that there is no interruption in the supply of oil," he said. ”
While the current tensions have yet to have an impact on Japan's crude supply, Shunichi Onitō stressed the importance of preparing for contingencies, noting that Japan's public and private sectors have a combined 240-day oil reserve that can act as a buffer to mitigate the impact of any supply shock on the economy and energy security.
Given the geopolitical uncertainty, Japanese oil refiners are exploring a diversified crude supply strategy to reduce their dependence on imports from the Middle East.
Shunichi Onitam noted that as an alternative source of supply, they are considering sourcing crude oil from West Africa and North America. However, he also acknowledged the logistical challenges of adapting existing refineries to new supplies primarily designed to process Middle Eastern crude.