Fukushima Operator Resumes Effort To Extract Melted Reactor Fuel

TOKYO, Sept. 10 (Bernama-dpa) -- The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has made a renewed effort to extract a small sample of melted atomic fuel from one of the reactors damaged in Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, reported German Press Agency (dpa). 

The initial attempt was postponed due to preparation issues, but nuclear operator TEPCO confirmed on Tuesday that the sample collection system has been correctly installed this time.

The new operation involves inserting a device through recently installed piping into reactor 1, with the goal of retrieving a small sample of the spent fuel debris.

According to Japanese media reports, TEPCO aims to use a telescopic device to extract approximately 3 grams of the material.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered core meltdowns in 2011 as a result of an earthquake and tsunami.

It is estimated that around 880 tons of radioactive molten fuel remain in three reactors. The recovery is the biggest challenge for decommissioning the damaged nuclear power plant, a process expected to take decades.

The destroyed reactors still require continuous cooling with water. About a year ago, Japan started the controversial release of previously filtered and diluted water, used to cool the nuclear reactors, into the sea, despite protests.

A 1-kilometre tunnel leading into the Pacific Ocean was built for this purpose. Japan justified this controversial measure by claiming that there would soon be no more space for the tanks containing the radioactive cooling water, hindering the decommissioning work at the nuclear site and posing a risk of leaks in the event of another earthquake.

The disposal of the large amounts of water is expected to take about 30 years.

--BERNAMA-dpa