A remote-controlled robot has successfully retrieved a small piece of radioactive fuel from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, marking a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to decommission the site after the 2011 meltdown.

The sample was collected from the molten debris in the Unit 2 reactor using the robot’s specialized arm, with hopes that it will provide valuable data for planning the plant’s decommissioning.

Despite some delays due to procedural issues and equipment failures, the mission resumed, and Tepco, the plant’s operator, is optimistic that the sample’s radioactivity will meet safety standards, The Guardian has reported.

The Japanese government aims for the cleanup to be completed in 30 to 40 years, although experts consider this timeline ambitious.

Written by B.C. Begley