Japan Resumes Trial Debris Removal from Fukushima Plant

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power has restarted the trial removal of nuclear fuel debris from the Fukushima Daiichi plant after suspending operations due to equipment malfunction. The debris, consisting of nuclear fuel and plant infrastructure, weighs around 880 tons. The process was initially delayed due to the pandemic.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has resumed the trial removal of nuclear fuel debris from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The effort had been suspended last month following an equipment malfunction.

This preparatory work marks a significant step since the 2011 tsunami that devastated the plant. The operation was put on hold on August 22 due to a fault in the extraction equipment. However, re-checks completed by September 6 cleared the way for work to resume.

The removal of the debris, consisting mainly of nuclear fuel and parts of the plant's infrastructure, weighs approximately 880 tons. Initially planned for 2021, the operation faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last August, TEPCO had begun releasing treated radioactive water as part of the decommissioning process, prompting China to ban Japanese seafood imports.

(With inputs from agencies.)