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TEPCO Shows 22-Meter Snake-Like Arm for Next Fukushima Debris Trial

Full-scale fuel removal remains pushed to at least 2037 because extreme radiation still constrains work.

Overview

  • A TEPCO video shows the 22-meter, 4.6-tonne arm navigating tight passages and inspecting complex structures inside confined spaces.
  • The camera-equipped device is described by TEPCO as better at gathering information than earlier tools.
  • TEPCO plans to use the new arm later this year for a third trial to retrieve debris from Reactor No. 2.
  • Previous trials recovered only tiny samples—about 0.9 milligram per attempt—underscoring the limits of earlier equipment.
  • An estimated 880 tonnes of hazardous fuel debris remain across three reactors, making debris retrieval the toughest phase of decommissioning.