IAEA Releases Review Mission Report, First Since Off-Shore Release

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On January 30, the first full report was published on the safety review mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since the discharge into the sea of water treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) at Fukushima Daiichi. The report concluded that Japan’s efforts “are consistent with international safety standards.”

IAEA conducted the sixth safety review mission from October 24 to 27, 2023. Along with seven IAEA representatives, including IAEA Deputy Director General Lydie Evrard and Gustavo Caruso, director of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, nine international experts visited Japan from Argentina, Canada, China, France, Marshall Islands, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and Vietnam.

Meeting with representatives of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the team heard explanations on various matters, including the monitoring since the start of the release of the ALPS-treated water and the condition of the release-related facilities. They also exchanged opinions and views.

The team also conducted on-site investigations, examining technical aspects of the offshore release in light of the IAEA’s international standards.

The review mission report describes each technical issue and summarizes observations, stating that “the Task Force did not identify anything that is inconsistent with the requirements in the relevant international safety standards” and that “the IAEA can reaffirm the fundamental conclusions of its safety review as outlined in the 4 July 2023 Comprehensive Report.” The onsite investigation further confirmed that equipment and facilities were installed and operated according to international safety standards.

Beyond the requirements of international safety standards, the report takes note of information dissemination, saying that “a comprehensive website containing all the monitoring and analysis results would be beneficial for the public and help to streamline the access and consumption of relevant data by the public.”

The next IAEA review mission will be conducted this coming spring.

Following receipt of the IAEA’s report this time, the Japanese government said that it would “continue to take measures in accordance with international safety standards and take all possible measures to ensure safety” through the IAEA review.

Along with the full report, the IAEA released two reports on its analyses of radionuclides present in the ALPS-treated water and the marine environment. Through a series of inter-laboratory comparisons (ILCs) by the IAEA’s laboratories and others, the neutrality of analytical capabilities at TEPCO and Japanese analytical authorities was reconfirmed.