Robot Retrieves Melted Fuel from Fukushima Reactor

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) has successfully retrieved a small piece of melted fuel from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, marking the first extraction of its kind since the catastrophic meltdown in 2011. The remote-controlled robot, named Telesco, collected a 5-millimeter sample from the No. 2 reactor's containment vessel using a fishing rod-like arm. While this milestone is a significant advancement in the plant's decommissioning efforts, the sample must undergo testing to confirm that its radioactivity is within safety limits; if not, the robot will need to collect another piece. The retrieval operation has faced delays due to procedural errors and equipment failures, extending the mission timeline beyond initial expectations. TEPCO has indicated that approximately 880 tons of radioactive fuel debris remain trapped within the reactors, necessitating ongoing robotic investigations. The successful operation is considered pivotal for assessing the condition of the melted fuel and planning future decommissioning strategies.