September 9, 2021
From September 6 to 9, IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) senior officials from the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security came to Japan. They visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and viewed the facilities related to ALPS treated water. There was a discussion toward the full-scale implementation of the review on the safety of ALPS treated water.
From September 6 to 9, Ms. Lydie Evrard, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the IAEA came to Japan.
This visit regarding the review on the safety of ALPS treated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has been done based on the agreement between Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA on August 19.
The brief overview of the meetings with the IAEA and the visit to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is as follows.
- Meetings between the Government of Japan and the IAEA
Based on the Terms of Reference signed on July 8 this year regarding the reviews of safety aspects of handling ALPS treated water, there was a discussion between the Government of Japan, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the IAEA on September 7 and 9. The future schedule and the element of the reviews were discussed. Both sides agreed that the review mission is expected to come to Japan in December this year and conduct the review on 1) the radiological characterization of the water to be discharged, 2) the safety related aspects of the water discharge process, and 3) the assessment of the radiological environmental impact with regard to the protection of people and the environment.
- Visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)
On September 8, IAEA Deputy Director General Evrard visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and viewed the facilities of ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), the tanks which store the treated water and the places where the facilities for discharging the treated water are considered to be built. There was also a technical discussion with the TEPCO.
- Meeting with State Minister EjimaOn September 9, there was a meeting between State Minister Ejima and Deputy Director General Evrard. At the meeting, State Minister Ejima emphasized the importance of having the reviews on the safety of ALPS treated water to be conducted repeatedly by the IAEA. Deputy Director General Evrard responded that the IAEA is strongly committed to ensuring that the review is comprehensive and objective and that the results are conveyed clearly to the international community.
