Nikkei reports on fuel debris retrieval plans; Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to allocate 400 billion yen

The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as seen from Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. [Reuters]
The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as seen from Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. [Reuters]

AI-controlled robots are expected to be deployed in the decommissioning of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was damaged in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the Nikkei reported Sunday.

According to the report, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company plan to begin procedures to deploy physical AI — autonomous robotic systems controlled by AI — for tasks including the retrieval of nuclear fuel debris at the Fukushima No. 1 plant.

The government intends to establish an industry-government-academia consortium this year to exchange views on how physical AI can be used in the plant's decommissioning. In addition to the government and Tokyo Electric Power, the consortium is expected to include AI development startups, manufacturers and universities.

Among the decommissioning tasks at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, retrieving the fuel debris remaining inside the No. 1 through No. 3 reactors is considered the most challenging. Tokyo Electric Power said it plans to carry out large-scale debris retrieval from the No. 3 reactor in fiscal 2037.

Before retrieval equipment can be installed, the interiors of the reactors and buildings must first be surveyed and obstacles removed — work that is extremely difficult for humans due to high radiation levels. Physical AI systems are expected to take on these roles.

Candidates under development include drones to survey building interiors, data-collection robots, and robotic arms capable of cutting and removing piping.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to allocate approximately 400 billion yen ($2.7 billion) for the related budget.


hongi@heraldcorp.com