Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has completed a significant milestone in its decommissioning project of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The company successfully extracted nuclear debris from the reactor containment of Unit 2, marking the first such extraction since the catastrophic incident in 2011.
The debris, measuring approximately 5 millimeters in diameter and weighing under 3 grams, was initially extracted outside the reactor's safety containment. Following this, TEPCO transferred the debris into a specialized container for further analysis. The analysis will focus on the debris's composition and hardness, providing crucial data for the planned full-scale removal in the future.
The next phase involves transporting this trial-extracted debris from Fukushima to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency's research center located in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. The analysis of the debris is expected to take several months, aiding in the strategy for removing the remaining 880 tons of nuclear debris, a process that represents the largest challenge in the plant's decommissioning efforts.
This development signifies the beginning of a new stage in the reactor decommissioning, with the Japanese government and TEPCO aiming to complete the process by 2051. However, whether this timeline will be met remains uncertain.
In March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake followed by a massive tsunami severely damaged the plant, resulting in core meltdowns in Units 1 through 3. The failure of cooling systems led to the melting of nuclear fuel rods, creating substantial nuclear debris, the removal of which is critical for the plant's decommissioning.
