The water-blocking ice wall is a system designed to block the flow of groundwater by freezing the ground below and around the four crippled reactor units, thus preventing its mixing with contaminated water.
Tepco president Naomi Hirose said that the ice wall construction start marks another milestone in the company’s overall effort to move forward in decontamination and decommissioning at Fukushima Daiichi.
"We appreciate the government’s cooperation, and the innovative work being performed by Kajima Corporation to make this important progress happen," Hirose added.
Beginning at the site’s northwest corner, pipes for freezing the soil are being installed.
The construction start follows Nuclear Regulatory Authority approval from on 30 May and is likely to be completed in early 2015.
Capable of resisting long-term interruptions of electricity while maintaining its effectiveness for approximately two months after the loss of power, the wall construction is one of the company’s efforts to reduce storage needs and protect the environment.
