An apparatus for removing irradiated burnable absorber capsules (108, 308a, 308b, 308c), the apparatus comprising: a control arm (228, 238, 234); characterized in that the apparatus comprises a BA capsule removal module (226, 300) supported by the control arm and positionable by the control arm around a BA rodlet (102, 202a, 302), comprising a paramagnetic cladding material disposed about an outer surface of the BA rodlet; wherein the BA capsule removal module defines a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably positioned around the BA rodlet, wherein the capsule removal tunnel defines first and second tunnel openings (342, 348) at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, and wherein the first and second tunnel openings define a distal radius R 1 that linearly tapers to a smaller inner radius R 2; wherein the BA capsule removal module (226, 300) comprises: a plurality of bearing columns equidistantly spaced in the capsule removal tunnel, wherein the bearing columns comprise bearings configured to contact the BA rodlet when positioned inside the capsule removal tunnel, and wherein the BA capsule removal module is slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet; and a solenoid positioned around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein the electromagnetic flux locks the BA capsule to the BA capsule removal module, wherein axial movement of the BA capsule removal module positioned outside of the BA rodlet results in the axial movement of the BA capsule inside of the BA rodlet. a control arm (228, 238, 234); characterized in that the apparatus comprises a BA capsule removal module (226, 300) supported by the control arm and positionable by the control arm around a BA rodlet (102, 202a, 302), comprising a paramagnetic cladding material disposed about an outer surface of the BA rodlet; wherein the BA capsule removal module defines a capsule removal tunnel configured to be slidably positioned around the BA rodlet, wherein the capsule removal tunnel defines first and second tunnel openings (342, 348) at corresponding first and second ends of the capsule removal tunnel, and wherein the first and second tunnel openings define a distal radius R 1 that linearly tapers to a smaller inner radius R 2; wherein the BA capsule removal module (226, 300) comprises: a plurality of bearing columns equidistantly spaced in the capsule removal tunnel, wherein the bearing columns comprise bearings configured to contact the BA rodlet when positioned inside the capsule removal tunnel, and wherein the BA capsule removal module is slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet; and a solenoid positioned around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein the electromagnetic flux locks the BA capsule to the BA capsule removal module, wherein axial movement of the BA capsule removal module positioned outside of the BA rodlet results in the axial movement of the BA capsule inside of the BA rodlet. a plurality of bearing columns equidistantly spaced in the capsule removal tunnel, wherein the bearing columns comprise bearings configured to contact the BA rodlet when positioned inside the capsule removal tunnel, and wherein the BA capsule removal module is slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the BA rodlet; and a solenoid positioned around the capsule removal tunnel and configured to electrically induce an electromagnetic flux in a BA capsule comprising a ferromagnetic material, wherein the electromagnetic flux locks the BA capsule to the BA capsule removal module, wherein axial movement of the BA capsule removal module positioned outside of the BA rodlet results in the axial movement of the BA capsule inside of the BA rodlet.