A few days ago, I posted that Hitachi said it could decommission Fukushima and estimated 10 years. Most experts, as Charley suggested, were estimating uup to 30 years.

The government has asked TEPCO to make initial payments for losses. Having lost 4/5 of its stock value, the company will have a hard time keeping afloat without massive government assistance. Under Japanese law, the operator has sole liability; designer and builders have none.