Rare Look Inside the Wrecked Reactor
Drones and a snake-like robot have ventured into the heart of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, capturing a rare glimpse of the devastation inside the reactor that suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 2011. The footage, released 13 years after the disaster, sheds light on the challenges faced in the plant’s decommission process.
Clues to the Extent of Damage
The drone’s exploration inside reactor No.1 marked a significant milestone, revealing the extensive damage within the containment structure. Reactors 1 to 3 pose particular challenges due to high levels of radioactivity and fuel leaks, with around 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel still present.
Engineers’ Long Road Ahead
The footage provides critical information for engineers to develop robots capable of removing the hazardous fuel, a task that could span another decade. Previous attempts to survey the reactors had failed, but a specially designed drone managed to navigate the wreckage, offering valuable insights for the decommissioning process.
Slow Progress in Decommissioning
Despite over a decade passing since the Fukushima disaster, the meticulous approach required for reactor inspection highlights the painstaking pace of the cleanup efforts. Technical challenges and the lack of data have hindered progress, with the projected decommission timeline of 30 to 40 years viewed as ambitious by critics.