VIENNA: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has affirmed the agency’s commitment to an ongoing impartial, independent, and objective safety review as Japan is set to begin the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea on August 24.
The Government of Japan recently announced its request to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) to proceed swiftly with preparations for the discharge, following the implementation plan approved by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority. Weather and sea conditions permitting, the discharge operation is scheduled to commence on August 24.
In response to Japan’s intention to discharge the treated water, the IAEA has conducted an exhaustive safety review over the past two years, focusing on the safety aspects of handling and discharging ALPS treated water. The comprehensive report detailing the findings of this review was issued by the IAEA on July 4, 2023.
IAEA Terms Japan’s Water Discharge as per International Safety Standards
The IAEA report concluded that the proposed approach and activities for the discharge align with relevant international safety standards. Furthermore, the report indicated that the discharge process would have an extremely minimal radiological impact on both the environment and human health.
Recognizing the significance of maintaining impartial and transparent oversight, the IAEA, in collaboration with Japan, has established the IAEA Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) Office in July 2023. This office serves as a base for IAEA staff to monitor and assess activities related to the discharge process on-site, ensuring continuous adherence to safety standards.
As the discharge operation commences, the IAEA has committed to publishing available data for the global community’s benefit. This data will encompass real-time and near real-time monitoring information. The agency will closely monitor the discharge process and provide updates to the public as the operation progresses.
