The operation, which aims to retrieve some of the estimated 880 tons of fuel debris from three affected reactors, had been halted on Aug. 22 after problems were discovered during preparations. TEPCO, the plant's operator, said the resumption came after confirming the correct installation of five pipes used to insert the retrieval device into the No. 2 reactor's containment vessel.
The initial setback occurred when TEPCO and its contractor, Japanese heavy industry manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, failed to verify the proper setup of the pipes, highlighting the complexities involved in the cleanup process.
Fuel debris retrieval remains a formidable challenge in the long-term decommissioning plan for the Fukushima Daiichi facility, which suffered severe damage following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. The current operation is seen as a key test in the decades-long process of dismantling the crippled plant.
