Key Points
Design Deliberations for Unit 3 Debris Retrieval Completed:
TEPCO has submitted a report on the design for fuel debris retrieval from Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 to the NDF's Sub-Committee.
Aiming for Expanded Retrieval Scope:
Based on 2024 recommendations, TEPCO finalized a specific retrieval method design focused on broadening the scope of debris collection while prioritizing safety.
Vital Step Towards Decommissioning:
While representing an unprecedented technological challenge, this progress is crucial for the goal of completing decommissioning within 30 to 40 years.
Details
In preparation for further enlarging the scope of fuel debris retrieval from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3, the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “NDF”) established the Sub-Committee for the Evaluation of Fuel Debris Retrieval Methods (hereinafter referred to as the “Sub-Committee”) in 2023. The purpose of the Sub-Committee is to comprehensively deliberate and assess fuel debris retrieval methods while prioritizing safety.
In March 2024, the Sub-Committee compiled a report*1 containing recommendations for the selection of fuel debris retrieval methods. Based on the contents of this report, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “TEPCO”) has been deliberating the design of fuel debris retrieval methods for Unit 3, while taking into consideration the suggestions made by Sub-Committee members and periodically updating the Sub-Committee on the status of these deliberations.
TEPCO hereby announces that it has completed the deliberations on the fuel debris retrieval method and has submitted*2 a report to the Sub-Committee. A summary of the report is provided in the attached materials.
Fuel debris retrieval is an extremely vital task for advancing the decommissioning process, not only because it contributes to risk reduction at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, but also because it involves unprecedented technological challenges. TEPCO will proceed with the fuel debris retrieval process step by step, prioritizing safety at all times, with the aim of completing decommissioning within 30 to 40 years, as stipulated in the Mid- and Long-Term Roadmap, and ultimately achieving the full decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
*1: “Sub-Committee for the Evaluation of Fuel Debris Retrieval Methods Report,” released on March 8, 2024.
This report compiles assessments of each fuel debris retrieval method and provides recommendations for method selection in order to further enlarge the scope of fuel debris retrieval from Unit 3.
*2: TEPCO submitted a report on the design deliberation for fuel debris retrieval from Unit 3 to the Sub-Committee on July 23, 2025.
Source: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3 Design Deliberation for Fuel Debris Retrieval Method
