The operator of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant said it aims to carry out a trial removal of highly radioactive debris next week, after a previous attempt was suspended.
Thirteen years after an earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima-Daiichi, around 880 tonnes of extremely hazardous material remain inside.
Late last month, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) suspended a removal procedure after a technical problem involving the installation of the necessary equipment.
“It will take several days for us to prepare for a resumption... and we will be able to resume next week if all goes well as scheduled,” a Tepco spokesman said.
In three units of the Fukushima plant, fuel and other material melted and then solidified into highly radioactive “fuel debris”.
The new operation aims to remove a sample of the debris and study it in order to decide on the next steps.
Tepco deployed two mini-drones and a “snake-shaped robot” inside in February, as part of the preparations for removal.
The debris has radiation levels so high that Tepco had to develop specialised robots able to function inside. — AFP
