Status of Fuel Removal from Spent Fuel Pools
The spent fuel pool in the upper part of each reactor building stores fuel rod assemblies that have been used to generate electric power. To reduce the risk from these spent fuel rods, the actual removal of the fuel from the accident-hit reactor buildings, or preparations therefor, are being carried out.
What Are Spent Fuel Rods?
Fuel rods that have been used to generate electric power in a nuclear reactor are replaced with new fuel after they are no longer usable. The replaced fuel rods are spent fuel. Since the spent fuel rods continue to generate heat, they are cooled for stable storage.
Status of Fuel Removal in Each Unit
Unit 1 Status
Survey of internal state
Removal of rubble
(operating floor)
Construction of a large cover
Removal of rubble
（overhead crane, etc.)
Installation of
a fuel handling facility
Removal of fuel
Completed
At Unit 1, the installation of the large cover for the purpose of suppressing dust dispersion and developing a work environment when removing rubble, and suppressing rainwater inflow was completed in January 2026. Goiong forward, we are working to install overhead crane, related equipment including dust monitor and air conditioning system in preparation for the full-scale rubble removal, and planning to commence fuel removal in fiscal years 2027-2028.
Unit 2 Status
Survey of internal state
South side of reactor building
Installation of "fuel removal platform
/front chamber/opening/runway girder"
Installation of
a fuel handling facility
Removal
of fuel
Completed
Fuel handling equipment will be installed in preparation for the commencement of fuel removal by FY2026.
Unit 3 Status
Survey of internal state
Removal of rubble
Installation of
a fuel handling facility
Removal
of fuel
Completed
Removal of all fuel from Unit 3 was completed in February 2021.
Unit 4 Status
Survey of internal state
Removal of rubble
Installation of
a fuel handling facility
Removal
of fuel
Completed
Removal of all fuel assemblies from Unit 4 was completed in December 2014.
The status of progress on the mid- to long-term roadmap (decommissioning and contaminated water measures team meetings/secretariat conferences) is updated in monthly progress reports and other materials.
See the “Spent fuel pool measures” materials here for details.
