The operator of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant showcased a remote-controlled robot on Tuesday, designed to retrieve tiny bits of melted fuel debris from one of the damaged reactors. This marks the first attempt at such a retrieval since the 2011 meltdown that occurred following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) plans to utilize a 'telesco-style' extendable pipe robot in the Fukushima Daiichi No. 2 reactor to test the removal of debris from its primary containment vessel by October. This initiative, originally scheduled to commence in late 2021, has faced delays, highlighting the challenges associated with the cleanup efforts.
During a demonstration at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyard in Kobe, Japan, the robot successfully picked up a granule using a device equipped with tongs. The upcoming test removal at the Fukushima plant aims to extract less than 3 grams (0.1 ounce) of debris, a crucial step in the decommissioning process.
Yusuke Nakagawa, a TEPCO group manager, emphasized the significance of the upcoming test removal, stating, 'We believe the upcoming test removal of fuel debris from Unit 2 is an extremely important step to steadily carry out future decommissioning work. It is important to proceed with the test removal safely and steadily.'
Approximately 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. Critics have raised concerns about the ambitious 30- to 40-year cleanup target set by the government and TEPCO, citing the unique challenges posed by the varying conditions in each reactor.
Enhanced understanding of the melted fuel debris within the reactors is crucial for their decommissioning process. TEPCO previously deployed mini drones into the No. 1 reactor's primary containment vessel to capture images from inaccessible areas. These efforts signify a step forward in the complex and demanding task of cleaning up and decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
