Supporting the Fukushima Daiichi Decommissioning Programme

Introduction

Since 2016, Veolia has worked in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to support clean-up activities at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Both organisations share a common objective: advancing the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning programme safely and effectively.

Key Facts

• Partnership established in 2016
• PCVI boom investigation system designed and built by Veolia
• Supports fuel debris retrieval from Unit 2
• Active deployment-phase support at Fukushima Daiichi
• Ongoing multidisciplinary engineering engagement

The Approach

Veolia's nuclear solutions business led the design and build of the Primary Containment Vessel Investigation (PCVI) boom investigation system, supporting the programme's goal of fuel debris retrieval from Unit 2. As the programme progresses from testing into deployment at Fukushima Daiichi (1F), Veolia continues to support MHI through deployment planning, site readiness, on-site technical monitoring, and advisory support.

Part of these preparations included Veolia hosting colleagues from MHI and Marubeni Utility Services (MUS) at its nuclear solutions headquarters in Abingdon, supporting site-readiness activities, and ensuring that Veolia's specialist engineers are prepared to provide deployment at the 1F site.

Ongoing Collaboration

Multidisciplinary teams from Veolia, spanning mechanical, electrical, and control and software engineering, remain engaged at Fukushima Daiichi to support operations of the PCVI system, including boom deployment, Dexter haptic feedback robot manipulator tasks and as required, working in close alignment with MHI teams.

This collaboration demonstrates how Veolia and MHI work together through defined roles and shared objectives, combining design expertise, operational support, and a common commitment to the safe and successful delivery of the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning mission. For further information visit our website.

From Design to Deployment: The PCVI Boom Investigation System

Veolia’s nuclear solutions business led the design and build of the Primary Containment Vessel Investigation (PCVI) boom investigation system, supporting the programme’s goal of fuel debris retrieval from Unit 2. This transition marks an important step from system validation to live operational implementation within a highly complex nuclear environment.

As the programme progresses from testing into deployment at Fukushima Daiichi (1F), Veolia continues to support MHI through:

• Deployment planning
• Site readiness activities
• On-site technical monitoring
• Advisory support

Multidisciplinary teams from Veolia remain engaged at Fukushima Daiichi to support operations of the PCVI system, including:

• Boom deployment
• DexterTM haptic feedback robot manipulator tasks
• Ongoing operational alignment with MHI teams
• Advisory support

Site Readiness and Operational Preparation

As part of these preparations, in February 2026 Veolia hosted colleagues from MHI and Marubeni Utility Services (MUS) at its Nuclear Solutions headquarters in Abingdon, UK. These sessions supported site-readiness activities and ensured that specialist engineers are fully prepared to provide deployment support at the 1F site.

Multidisciplinary teams from Veolia, spanning mechanical, electrical, control and software engineering, remain engaged at Fukushima Daiichi to support operations of the PCVI system.