The removal of spent uranium fuel rods from the Fukushima power plant will begin three years later compared to the originally planned date, the Japanese government said in a roadmap published on Friday.

Initially, the removal was scheduled for the end of 2015 for Unit 3 and for late 2017 for Units 1 and 2.

Due to the high level of radiation in the area and the difficulty of the operation, it was decided to postpone the work for Unit 3 until 2017, and until 2020 for the first two units.

The schedule for the removal of the dangerous fuel remains unchanged and will take place in 2021. Cleanup efforts around Fukushima could take up to 40 years.

In March 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered a meltdown of several reactors as a result of a powerful earthquake and a subsequent tsunami.

Some 140,000 people were evacuated from the area due to a major leak of nuclear materials.

Source: Sputnik News