The operator of Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant said Thursday it would begin a trial removal of highly radioactive debris after previous efforts were postponed.
Thirteen years after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Fukushima-Daichi, some 880 tons of highly hazardous materials are still stored inside the plant. The incident at the Fukushuma nuclear power plant was one of the world's worst nuclear accidents.
Late last month, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) halted disposal procedures after technical problems involving the installation of some equipment.
“We need a few days to start (debris removal)…and we could start next week if everything goes according to schedule,” a Tepco spokesman told reporters.
Three of Fukushima-Daiichi's six reactors were operating when the tsunami struck on March 11, 2011. The natural disaster destroyed cooling systems and caused a meltdown that became the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
At the three Fukushima nuclear power plant units, fuel and other materials melted and then solidified into “fuel debris” which has a very high radioactive content.
The new operation aims to retrieve debris samples and study them to decide what to do next.
Tepco deployed two mini drones and a “snake-shaped robot” to enter the plant building in February, as part of preparations for the move.
The debris has such high levels of radiation that Tepco had to develop special robots that could function inside it.
Last year, Tepco began releasing water used to cool the damaged reactors into the Pacific Ocean. The volume of wastewater released is enough to fill 540 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
But removing the debris has long been considered the most daunting challenge in the decades-long project to decommission the power plant. (ft/rs)
