Fukushima: Outside power source won't be available soon (NHKNews)

[jannyk]

The government says an outside power source is unlikely to be available at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant for some time, although electricity is urgently needed to cool the reactors.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Friday that the installation of power cables at the Number One and Number 2 reactors is expected to be completed on Saturday. The operation to add power cables at the Number 3 and Number 4 reactors is likely to end on Sunday.

The agency said, however, that it will take some time to confirm the safety of the damaged facilities.

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Company have been scrambling to restore power at the plant to restart the cooling systems for the reactors.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_36.html

TOKYO, March 18, Kyodo

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday that Japan's nuclear crisis still does not warrant optimism, but he believes the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi power station following last week's calamitous earthquake and tsunami will be resolved soon.

In a nationally televised address a week after the magnitude 9.0 quake, Kan thanked the public for acting calmly, despite the unprecedented scale of the twin natural disasters and great concern over the crippled nuclear plant.
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/79442.html

[Wilms]

1. And....Fukushima Power Won’t Guarantee Cooling, France’s ASN Says

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x280390

[MadHound]

2. The big question is whether there is anything left at those reactors for electricity to power.

Doesn't do you any good if you have electricity if your pumps are destroyed, or the pipes are damaged. There was, after all, a major earthquake that precipitated this, and that usually not only brings down utilities above ground, but also utilities below ground.

[Aerows]

5. That's what I wonder

Are any of the pumps working, and I find it difficult to believe that the infrastructure surround the pumps isn't damaged, what with the explosions, the earthquake and the fires.

[RC]

3. Oh great, yet another "We're All Gonna DIE!" thread.

They do have power at the site. They have at least one large diesel generator running.

[jannyk]

4. WTF?? This was a government bulletin of just a few hours ago

Keep your vanity posts under control.

[marions ghost]

6. eh?

the OP article is very factual and unemotional.

What's ur point? :shrug:

[PA Democrat]

7. An emergency diesel generator is being used to cool ponds at Reactors 5 & 6

"Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has reported increasing temperatures in the spent fuel ponds at Units 5 and 6 since 14 March. An emergency diesel generator at Unit 6 is now powering water injection into the ponds at those Units, according to NISA."

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html

This does not address the concerns with units 1 through 4.