Specialists at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have deployed a 22-meter remotely operated robotic arm into the containment vessel of the second reactor. The device is equipped with interchangeable attachments to perform various tasks within the damaged structure.
The robotic arm will spend three to four months cutting through internal components that block access to the melted nuclear fuel. Tokyo Electric Power, the plant operator, intends to use the equipment to gather detailed data on the condition of the hardware located inside the reactor vessel.
Engineers have already conducted two test operations at the site. The primary goal of retrieving the melted fuel fragments is scheduled for 2027. Experts estimate that approximately 880 tons of fuel debris remain inside the three damaged reactors, posing significant challenges due to high radiation levels.
The accident at the plant occurred in the spring of 2011 following a tsunami that disabled power and cooling systems, leading to meltdowns and hydrogen explosions. Approximately 165,000 people were evacuated from the surrounding areas. Full decommissioning of the facility is expected to take at least 40 years.
