Energy News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Trial removal of nuclear debris from Fukushima reactor begins
Trial removal of nuclear debris from Fukushima reactor begins
by AFP Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 10, 2024

A difficult operation to remove a small amount of radioactive debris from Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant began Tuesday, after technical issues suspended an earlier attempt.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said in a statement that its "pilot extraction operation" had started. It will take about two weeks, according to the company.

The tiny sample will be studied for clues about conditions inside the reactors -- a crucial step towards decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Around 880 tons of extremely hazardous material remain 13 years after a tsunami caused by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered one of the world's worst nuclear accidents.

Removing the debris from the reactors is regarded as the most daunting challenge in the decades-long decommissioning project.

"The government would like to urge TEPCO to respond with an even higher sense of urgency as we enter the most difficult work phase, which will be the basis for decommissioning the plant," chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters on Tuesday.

TEPCO originally planned to start its first trial removal on August 22, aiming to collect just three grams (0.1 ounces) for analysis -- if the extraction process is successful.

But the company had to stop the work at a preliminary stage after detecting a problem involving the installation of the necessary equipment.

Three of the Fukushima plant's six reactors were operating when the tsunami hit on March 11, 2011, sending them into meltdown.

The debris within has radiation levels so high that TEPCO had to develop specialised robots able to function inside.

TEPCO deployed two mini-drones and a "snake-shaped robot" into one of the three nuclear reactors in February, as part of the preparations for the removal task.

Separately, last year Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean, sparking a diplomatic row with China and Russia.

Both countries have banned Japanese seafood imports, although Tokyo insists the discharge is safe, a view backed by the UN atomic agency.

And in a TEPCO initiative to promote food from the Fukushima area, swanky London department store Harrods on Saturday began selling peaches that were grown in the region.

Fukushima peaches are renowned for their juicy, sweet taste -- but they aren't cheap, with one box of three reportedly going for 80 pounds ($100).

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Japan to resume trial removal of Fukushima debris
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 5, 2024
The operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant said Thursday it aims to carry out a trial removal of highly radioactive debris next week, after a previous attempt was suspended. Thirteen years after an earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima-Daiichi in one of the world's worst nuclear accidents, around 880 tons of extremely hazardous material remain inside. Late last month, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) had to suspend a removal procedure after a technical problem involving th ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Biomethane Production on Peat Soils Leads to Higher CO2 Emissions than Natural Gas

CABBI team designs efficient bioenergy crops that need less water to grow

Engineered microbes efficiently convert CO2 into key pharmaceutical precursors

UK power firm to pay fine over inaccurate data on wood

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Solar and Farming Can Work Together, Swansea University Researchers Show

UN's Guterres says China-Africa ties can drive 'renewable energy revolution'

Custom innovations for fault detection in renewable power grids

AI-powered process unveils chemical keys for solar energy advancements

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Researchers develop method for chemically recyclable wind turbine blades

India's green energy wind drive hits desert herders hard

MIT engineers' new theory could improve the design and operation of wind farms

Engineers Develop Cost-Effective Seafloor Testing Device for Offshore Wind Farms

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Chinese climate lending greater than previously understood: report

Heat pumps are key to home electrification -- but will Americans buy in?

China nears peak emissions as climate envoy meets US counterpart

UK announces record green energy auction

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Argonne to lead National Energy Storage Research Hub

New Reactions May Unlock Long-Lasting Superheavy Nuclei with Distinct Properties

Researchers discover a surprising way to jump-start battery performance

Bubbling, frothing and sloshing: Long-hypothesized plasma instabilities finally observed

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Greenpeace sounds alarm on microplastics ingested by Hong Kong wildlife

Air pollution declined in Europe and China in 2023: UN

Burning trash a major source of plastic pollution: study

'Queen of Trash' in dock in Sweden's biggest toxic waste scandal

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Chinese PM meets Saudi crown prince during Riyadh visit

Hijacked, sunk, set ablaze: Yemen rebels' Red Sea attacks

Oil tanker ablaze off Yemen threatens environmental disaster

Iran president says 14 agreements signed with Iraq to expand ties

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Martian Ice Caps Reveal Insights into Ancient Climate Shifts

Perseverance Kicks off the Crater Rim Campaign

Study identifies key materials for shielding astronauts from Mars radiation

The means for mapping Martian meteorites

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.