TEPCO confirms meltdown extra rod

May 24, 2011 updated at 03: 59 GMT problems with the Fukushima nuclear power have raised questions to the wireless future Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) Tepco confirmed the collapse of the additional fuel rods in reactors to its damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The company said that the rods were in the reactors at its number 2 and number 3.

TEPCO has attempted to contain the radiation from the plant, paralyzed by the earthquake of 11 March and the tsunami.

The company said that it planned to abandon his calendar of strike under control in January.

Of the TEPCO was announced the same day where an atomic watchdog team of the United Nations, the international agency of Atomic Energy (IAEA), has launched a visit to the Japan.

100 hours continue reading

main history based on our analysis, we came to the conclusion that a certain amount of nuclear fuel melted down. "

End quote Ken Matsuda Tepco earlier this month, Tepco had revealed that shoots at his number 1 reactor melted." It was thought that a similar problem occurred in other reactors, but it was difficult to confirm.

"According to our analysis, we have reached the conclusion that a certain amount of nuclear fuel melted," Ken Matsuda, a Tepco spokesman told the BBC.

He indicated that the analysis came from a report that Tepco was required to submit to Japan nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

The spokesman added that the major part of the number 2 reactor fuel had melted about 100 hours after the earthquake, which measured 9 on the Richter scale, struck in the Japan.

The collapse in reactor number 3 took place about 60 hours after the earthquake.

Mr. Matsuda, stated that the new discovery would not change the Tepco plans.

The company has said it wants to achieve a "cold shutdown" of the power plant in January and tried to cool the reactors and obtain unstable fuel rods under control.

"This result does not change our work", he said.

Continue reading the main story Roland Buerk, BBC News, Tokyo

At home and its neighbors, the Japanese Government has to some criticism on its management of the crisis in the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The Secretary General of Government Yukio Edano said that the International Energy Agency team Atomic is be allowed in the country to demonstrate transparency.

Led by Mike Weightman, Inspector in Chief of nuclear facilities, Britain 20 experts from a dozen countries are expected at the paralyzed plant.

They also meet with officials as they compile a report to be submitted to the IAEA Member States next month.

The goal is to draw lessons for improving nuclear safety worldwide and share expertise.

Radiation monitoring earlier in may, Tepco has revealed that the damage suffered by the reactor number 1 immediately after the earthquake and the tsunami was much more serious that we thought initially.

Professor Nobumasa Akiyama, from the Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo said new revelation of the Tepco reinforces this idea.

In an effort to better understand the current situation in the Japan to the IAEA experts join other international experts in Tokyo for a fact-finding mission.

They will have to submit a report on the manipulation of the Japan of the nuclear crisis to present to the Member States of the IAEA.

The Group should visit the Fukushima nuclear power, although details have not been finalised.

Professor Akiyama said that the IAEA criticized for its response to the crisis of Fukushima.

"First of all, it could not provide information on what is happening on the ground," he said. "Second place, it did was not able to provide a prescription for the solution of the crisis".

Mr. Akiyama, said the nuclear agency would provide guidelines more for nuclear safety after the visit to the Japan this week.

He added that it may be necessary beef its funding and its staff if it would be able to discharge its mandate.