TEPCO Halts Fukushima Fuel Debris Removal Amid Equipment Error

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has paused the test removal of nuclear fuel debris at the Fukushima Daiichi plant due to an installation error. Originally set for 2021 but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the critical phase of the decommissioning process faces further uncertainty.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has suspended the preparation work for the test removal of nuclear fuel debris from the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant. According to a company spokesperson, the suspension is due to an error in the installation of the extraction equipment.

This preparatory work was initially scheduled to begin in 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The timeline for resumption of the first-of-its-kind operation since the 2011 accident remains unclear. The debris, a mix of nuclear fuel and plant infrastructure, weighs approximately 880 tons and remains radioactive, as reported by NHK.

TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa emphasized the importance of safely conducting the trial removal, calling it the most crucial phase of the decommissioning process. Meanwhile, the release of treated radioactive water has led to a ban on Japanese seafood imports by China and Russia due to safety concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)