TEPCO Begins Trial Retrieval of Fukushima Debris

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) will commence a trial retrieval of melted nuclear fuel debris from reactor No. 2 at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant on Thursday, marking the first extraction attempt since the 2011 disaster. The operation aims to remove less than 3 grams of debris using a telescopic device designed to operate remotely due to the high radiation levels present. This effort is part of a long-term plan to decommission the plant, which is projected to take three to four decades and cost approximately ¥23 trillion ($157 billion). TEPCO has faced multiple delays, initially planning to start the retrieval process in 2021, but has since developed a more suitable device for the challenging task. The removal of the estimated 880 tons of debris from the reactors is considered one of the most difficult aspects of the decommissioning process. If successful, this trial will provide critical data for future large-scale removal efforts.