Fukushima Nuclear Plant Clean Up faces a new delay in the elimination of derived fuel remains

The beginning of large -scale elimination of the fuel remains derived in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan will be delayed for several years, the last setback announced by the plant operator.

The Tokyo electric power company, or Tepco, said it will need 12 to 15 years of preparation, or until 2037 or posterior, before starting large -scale elimination of the fuel remains derived in reactor No. 3. The preparation, he said, includes reducing the levels of radiation and the construction of the necessary facilities in and around the reactor.

In general, at least 800 tons of melted nuclear fuel have been mixed with broken parts of internal structures and other debris within the three reactors suffered by collapses after the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

The delay again goes back the objective 2051 established by the government of Japan and Tepco to dismantle the plant.

A trial recovery From a small sample of fuel remains melted in November, I was already three years ago, and some experts estimate that the dismantling work could take more than a century.

Tepco said he plans to fulfill the current end of 2051.

“Being realistic, we are aware of the difficulty (to achieve the goal), but we will not yet launch the goal, since we still do not have a clear work schedule after the elimination on a large scale begins,” said Akira Ono, TEPCO dismantling director.

Ono said that Tepco plans to examine the necessary preparation work in the other two reactors in the coming years, before the recovery of large -scale fuel.

After small robots missions to gather samples, experts will determine a large -scale method to eliminate melted fuel, first in reactor No. 3.

In March 2024, Tepco released a dozen Images taken by miniature drones Sent deeply in a reactor very damaged in the plant, showing displaced control equipment and deformation materials. The photos were the first from the inside of the main structural support called pedestal in the main containment container containing containment. 1 harder, an area directly below the reactor nucleus.

• Japan
• Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster