Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant continues debris removal and water discharge

Operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant are progressing through two major decommissioning workstreams. In Unit 2, efforts to investigate the reactor pressure vessel and conduct experimental removal of nuclear fuel debris have resumed as of October 2, 2026. The work had previously been suspended due to a robot arm failure, but Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has since identified the cause and implemented countermeasures.

Separately, TEPCO began its 25th total discharge of treated water on October 26, 2026. This latest phase involves releasing approximately 7,800 tonnes of treated water into the ocean over a 19-day period. The discharge aims to reduce the number of storage tanks on-site to create space for decommissioning activities, including the construction of facilities for fuel debris removal.

The government and TEPCO maintain a target completion date for the decommissioning process by 2051, which is also the year tritium levels in the storage tanks are expected to reach zero.