Asia-Pacific

Japan's nuclear leak to affect site of US reactors

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-21 10:35

WASHINGTON - In light of the Japan nuclear crisis, US officials will reevaluate where the United States builds its nuclear power plants, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Sunday.

Special Coverage: Earthquake Hits Japan Related readings:  Japan not now on visitors' agendas  FMs agree to boost nuclear safety cooperation  No immediate threat to China from Japan crisis  Pressure rises again in Japan reactor

"Certainly where we site reactors - and where we site reactors going forward - will be different than where we might have sited them in the past," Chu said on "Fox News Sunday."

Chu said that Japanese authorities and power company officials are "making very good progress" in stabilizing the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. He thought there was no evidence that the Japanese were holding back information on the reactors. "We have confidence," in information provided by the Japanese, he said.

Japan's nuclear safety agency said Sunday that pressure levels inside the containment vessel of the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima plant are stabilizing. Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant's operator, said Sunday afternoon that it restored the power supply to the No. 2 reactor.

The crisis in Japan has prompted nations around the world to review their own nuclear power efforts.