The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, will visit Japan next week to meet with Japanese authorities and watch the last preparations to discharge cleansed radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear reactor into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan's wastewater discharge plan, which local fishing organizations and neighboring nations have opposed because of safety concerns, is being bolstered by this visit.
Japan's foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, announced Grossi's July 4-7 visit. The IAEA's top official will meet Hayashi, Nishimura, and Kishida. Grossi will also visit Fukushima, ravaged by a 2011 earthquake and tsunami, according to AP News.
To emphasize Japan's support, Hayashi stressed the IAEA's role in nuclear nonproliferation and peaceful nuclear energy.
The Director General of @iaeaorg @rafaelmgrossi will travel to 🇯🇵 #Japan next week to present the comprehensive findings of the #IAEA’s safety review of Japan’s plan to release treated water from the #Fukushima Daiichi plant into the sea.https://t.co/4HEvzeUoAy pic.twitter.com/1ADUn7vXjM
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 30, 2023
The Fukushima plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), has completed wastewater discharge equipment, according to a report from US News. TEPCO expects to start the release in a week after Japanese regulators finish their final evaluation. However, the precise commencement date is still up in the air as the Nuclear Regulation Authority continues to deliberate.
Long-Term Impact of Nuclear Waste Feared
Grossi's agenda calls for further trips to South Korea, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands to address concerns from outside. The IAEA is scheduled to publish its final report on the wastewater discharge plan at this time to allay worries and provide a thorough analysis.
Japanese government and utility authorities have underlined the need to remove the wastewater that is kept in around 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima plant. They contend that its removal is necessary to make room for the plant's decommissioning and to stop unintentional leaks.
The somewhat radioactive treated water will be diluted to levels below international regulations. The steady release over several decades is anticipated to make it innocuous to both people and marine life.
Some experts, however, have voiced concern due to the unknown long-term implications of low-dose radionuclide exposure. They suggest postponing the discharge or encasing the wastewater in cement for use in building supplies. Others want more openness in sampling and monitoring, even if they think the proposed release is safe.
The Japanese government has addressed the dissemination of bogus reports, including one that claims Japan forced the IAEA to distort its final report, amid the continuing discussion.
The IAEA is aware of these fake documents, according to Foreign Minister Hayashi, who also emphasized that the agency is in charge of preparing a thorough final report and is not susceptible to interference from the Japanese government.
Hayashi vehemently resisted any effort to compromise the IAEA's objectivity and independence by spreading false information.
South Koreans Protest Fukushima Wastewater Release
On Friday, environmental activists protested outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. As Japan prepares for the Fukushima nuclear plant wastewater release, anxieties among South Koreans have led to an excessive stockpiling of sea salt and other items.
Over 85% of South Koreans disagree with Japan's wastewater release, according to a recent study by the local pollster Research View, The Independent reported. The survey also indicates that 70% of South Koreans said they would eat less fish if the Fukushima nuclear plant release goes as planned.
