The removal of melted fuel at Fukushima will be delayed until 2037

• The start of the removal of fuel at Fukushima will be delayed until 2037.
• TEPCO will need up to 15 years to prepare for the removal.
• A total of 880 tons of fuel was mixed with debris in three reactors.

The operator of the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi announced that the start of the full-scale removal of melted fuel will be delayed until 2037 or later. This delay raises challenges that the company will have to address.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) reported that it will need between 12 and 15 years to prepare before starting the removal of fuel from the third reactor. This preparation includes reducing radiation levels and constructing necessary facilities around the reactor.

In total, approximately 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel was mixed with debris from the internal structures and other materials in three reactors that suffered accidents following the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

This delay again extends the goal to 2051, established by the Japanese government and TEPCO for the plant's decommissioning. Testing of the removed fuel has already been delayed for three years, and some experts estimate that the decommissioning process could take longer than expected.

TEPCO plans to maintain its goal of completing the decommissioning by 2051. "We acknowledge the complexity of achieving this goal, but we will not abandon it, as we still do not have a clear program for work after the start of the full-scale removal," said Akira Ono, the chief specialist for decommissioning.

He also noted that TEPCO plans to develop preparatory work necessary for the two other reactors, continuing in the coming years before the full-scale removal of the melted fuel. After a few years of work to gather samples, experts highlight methods for the large-scale removal starting from the third reactor.

Tags: Energy