units 5 and 6 now in cold shutdown

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Stabilisation_at_Fukushima_Daiichi_2003111.html

Stabilisation at Fukushima Daiichi
20 March 2011

FIRST PUBLISHED 2.05pm GMT
UPDATE 1: 2.56pm GMT Units 5 and 6 in cold shutdown, tsunami heights
UPDATE 2: 3.30pm GMT IAEA graph of fuel pond temperatures



Workers on site have succeeded in increasing the stability of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors, with units 5 and 6 now in cold shutdown. Pressure built up within unit 3 but a more significant venting does not seem necessary now.



External power has now been connected to unit 5 and 6, allowing them to use their residual heat removal systems and transfer heat to the sea. This has been used to cool the fuel ponds and bring the units to cold shutdown status, meaning that water in the reactor system is at less than 100?C.