Japan removes radioactive fuel from Fukushima plant

After facing major setbacks, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has begun the crucial task of removing a small amount of debris containing melted fuel from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant. This marks a major step toward the long and complex process of decommissioning the plant. TEPCO’s pilot removal operation, which began after previous efforts were halted due to technical issues, is expected to take about two weeks, Interesting Engineering September 10 news.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered one of the worst nuclear disasters in history after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11, 2011. The plant still contains about 880 tons of highly radioactive material. Removing the debris is considered one of the most challenging aspects of the decades-long decommissioning project. TEPCO had originally planned to begin a trial removal on August 22, aiming to collect small samples of about 3 grams for analysis.

However, operations were halted after problems were discovered with the installation of necessary equipment. The problems included the incorrect placement of five pipes intended to carry collection equipment into the No. 2 reactor vessel, forcing TEPCO to temporarily halt operations while it made adjustments. TEPCO has since corrected the layout and resumed operations.

Because of the extremely high levels of radiation inside the reactor, TEPCO has had to develop specialized robotic technology to carry out debris collection. One such device is a robotic arm designed to act like a fishing rod, remotely controlled to lower a metal clamp into the reactor, helping to collect small amounts of debris. The device, which can extend up to 22 meters, will be inserted into the reactor vessel to collect nearly 3 grams of toxic material. The entire process is expected to take two weeks.

In February, TEPCO deployed two mini drones and a snake-shaped robot into one of the reactors in preparation for the mission. Such advanced technologies are key to navigating the challenging environment of the reactor, where humans cannot enter or exit due to high radiation levels.

The effort to decommission the Fukushima plant is part of a broader strategy to manage the long-term effects of the disaster. Last year, Japan began dumping treated wastewater from the plant into the Pacific Ocean, a move that sparked diplomatic tensions with China and Russia. Both countries have banned imports of Japanese seafood.