Since the catastrophic meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant 14 years ago, radiation levels have considerably decreased. In many areas, workers now only require surgical masks and regular clothing. However, access to the reactor buildings, particularly those damaged during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, demands maximum protective gear, including full facemasks, multi-layered gloves, and hazmat suits.
As part of a monumental effort to clean up the site, which may take over a century, workers are tasked with removing melted fuel debris while facing significant psychological stress and potential radiation exposure. Recent advancements include the successful extraction of a small sample of melted fuel debris from the No. 2 reactor, a crucial milestone in a lengthy decommissioning process involving around 800 tonnes of hazardous material.
Akira Ono, the chief decommissioning officer of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), explained that while the small sample has provided valuable insight, more substantial retrieval efforts are anticipated to commence in the 2030s. A subsequent mission to obtain more samples from the No. 2 reactor is planned, during which operators aim to send a remote-controlled robot deeper into the reactor to capture critical data.
Despite improvements in decontamination leading to lower radiation levels, the environment inside the reactor remains perilous. Workers rotate in short shifts to minimise exposure and have implemented various strategies to prevent contamination, including rehearsals and the use of dose monitors. Operational challenges arose, such as equipment malfunctions due to high radiation levels, demanding ongoing adaptations in equipment handling.
Each worker’s radiation dose, while above average, remains well below the allowable limit, although concerns about safety persist. An annual survey indicated that many are anxious regarding radiation risks. Controversially, incidents have occurred where workers suffered burns from contaminated sludge, underscoring the persistent dangers they face.
Preparations for removing spent fuel units from the No. 2 reactor’s cooling pool are set to start within the next few years, with significant steps already taken towards decontamination on the top floor of the No. 1 reactor. Workers are also dealing with treated radioactive wastewater and dismantling tanks to create space for future facilities needed for managing melted fuel.
The government and TEPCO project a decommissioning completion by 2051, even though the retrieval of melted fuel is already behind schedule, and substantial challenges remain unresolved. Local resident Hiroshi Ide, who operates under strict safety protocols, emphasises the importance of thorough decommissioning, aspiring for a safe return for citizens to their homes without fear of contamination.
With remote-controlled technologies leading the charge, the road to decommissioning Fukushima illustrates a complex interplay of safety, innovation, and the enduring effects of one of history’s most severe nuclear disasters.