Robot Retrieval of Melted Fuel at Fukushima Delayed by Technical Issue

An attempt to retrieve a melted fuel sample from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant`s Unit 2 reactor was halted due to a technical error. The robot arm, designed to collect the sample, was not properly installed, forcing postponement of the operation due to worker safety concerns. This sample retrieval is the first step in a long decommissioning process, aiming to provide crucial information about the melted fuel for future decommissioning efforts. Despite the setback, plant operator TEPCO prioritizes safety and plans to investigate the cause of the error. The overall plant cleanup is estimated to take 30-40 years, though specific plans for complete fuel removal and storage remain undecided.