Fukushima Plant Debris Extraction Resumes

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has resumed the challenging task of removing a small amount of radioactive debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, marking a crucial step in the decades-long decommissioning process. The operation, which follows a suspended attempt on August 22 due to technical issues, involves using specialized robots to retrieve debris from Reactor No. 2, 13 years after the facility was crippled by a tsunami-induced meltdown. The current pilot extraction is expected to take about two weeks, with only a tiny sample being collected for analysis. This sample will provide critical insights into the reactor's conditions, aiding further decommissioning efforts. The plant still contains around 880 tons of hazardous material, and the high radiation levels have necessitated advanced robotic technology for safe debris removal.