TOKYO: The operator of Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear energy plant stated on Thursday (Dec 26) it’ll start the second spherical of a fancy operation to gather samples of radioactive particles from the location this spring.
About 880 tons of hazardous materials stay on the Fukushima website, 13 years after a catastrophic tsunami attributable to a magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered one of many worst nuclear accidents in historical past.
Debris elimination is taken into account the hardest problem in a decommissioning undertaking in current many years, attributable to dangerously excessive radiation ranges.
Last month, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated a trial particles elimination operation had been accomplished utilizing a specifically developed extendable machine.
The pattern weighing just below 0.7 g, equal to a few grape, was delivered to a analysis laboratory close to Tokyo for evaluation.
A TEPCO official stated at a information convention that they’re now making ready for the elimination of the second pattern, scheduled for “March-April.”
According to paperwork launched Thursday, the corporate is “upgrading” the telescopic machine used for the primary experiment by attaching a brand new digital camera to its tip.
“Based on our earlier expertise, we may also make progress in coaching our employees to higher familiarize them with the method” earlier than tackling further pattern assortment, the doc reads.
Three of Fukushima’s six reactors fell aside in 2011 after an enormous tsunami swamped the ability.
Last yr, Japan started releasing into the Pacific Ocean among the reactor cooling water, equal to 540 Olympic swimming swimming pools, collected after the catastrophe.
