An operation to remove a small amount of radioactive debris from Unit 2 at Japan’s Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear station has begun, after technical issues led to the cancellation of an earlier attempt.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said in a statement on Tuesday (10 September) that its “pilot extraction operation” had started. It will take about two weeks, according to the company.
Tepco is aiming to retrieve just three grams of fuel mixed with other debris as part of a demonstration programme for the unprecedented cleanup, which reports have said is expected to take decades and cost 23 trillion yen ($161bn, €145bn).