TEPCO deploys robotic arm at Fukushima Daiichi to extract fuel debris

TEPCO has begun deploying a remote-controlled robotic arm into the containment vessel of reactor No. 2 at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This operation is part of preparations for a third attempt to extract melted fuel debris.

The robotic arm, which features multiple joints for wide reach and can swap various tools, will be used to film the interior and remove obstacles, such as cutting steel rails with high-pressure water jets. TEPCO plans to spend three to four months clearing obstructions and collecting 3D data of the vessel's interior before proceeding with the extraction attempt. The entire operation is expected to last approximately six months.

Due to extreme radiation levels, human workers cannot enter the containment vessels, leaving the exact condition of much of the debris unknown. It is estimated that approximately 880 tons of fuel debris remain within the three damaged reactors. Previous attempts in 2024 and 2025 used rod-like tools to extract a total of about 0.9 grams of debris. The development of this robotic technology involved approximately 7.8 billion yen in public funding.