The removal of melted fuel debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been postponed for the third time due to ongoing issues with a robotic arm. The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) have now set a new target of October 2023 to begin the removal process using an alternative device.
The initial plan to start a test removal from the plant's No. 2 reactor by March 2023 was delayed twice due to setbacks in the development of the robotic arm. TEPCO has acknowledged that the arm's movement still lacks sufficient precision.
Despite the delay, TEPCO maintains that the overall timeline for decommissioning the plant, which is set to be completed by 2051, will not be affected. The utility also presented its plan to release treated radioactive water from the plant in fiscal 2024.
Under the plan, approximately 54,600 tons of treated wastewater will be discharged into the ocean in seven batches. The water will be diluted with seawater to reduce the concentration of tritium, which cannot be removed through the treatment process.
The estimated total tritium release is around 14 trillion becquerels, below the annual limit of 22 trillion becquerels set by TEPCO. Since August 2022, a total of 23,400 tons of treated wastewater has been discharged into the sea in three releases. Analyses have not detected abnormal radiation levels in seawater or fish in surrounding areas.