In July 2023, the Agency published its Comprehensive Report on the Safety Review of the ALPS-Treated Water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The report concluded that the approach to discharging ALPS-treated water into the sea was consistent with Agency safety standards and that the discharge, as currently planned and assessed, would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. In his foreword to the report, the Director General emphasized that the release of the treated water stored at Fukushima Daiichi Power Station is a national decision by the Government of Japan and that this report is neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of that policy, while hoping that all who have an interest in this decision will welcome the IAEA’s independent and transparent review.
Fukushima ALPS-Treated Water Discharge
In 2021, the Government of Japan requested the Agency to conduct a detailed review of the safety-related aspects of the discharge of advanced liquid processing system (ALPS) treated water with reference to the Agency’s safety standards.
The Director General committed the Agency to being involved before, during and after the discharge, and in compliance with its statutory mandate and functions. To implement the review in a fully transparent manner, the Director General established a Task Force, including independent and internationally recognized experts from around the world.
Also in July 2023, the Director General visited Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Cook Islands, which chaired the Pacific Islands Forum, and New Zealand, to engage with governments and communities, address local concerns and brief leaders on the Agency’s findings.
In August 2023, the discharge operation began. The Agency and third-party laboratories in Member States are undertaking activities to corroborate Japan’s programmes for source and environmental monitoring. In 2023 three batches amounting to 23 400 cubic metres of water were discharged into the sea.
In October 2023, the Task Force conducted its first review mission following the start of the discharge, and concluded that the operation is progressing as planned and continues to be consistent with the Agency safety standards.
Highlights in 2023
- Establishment of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Agency and Japan to provide a framework for the Agency’s activities.
- Monitoring and assessment to directly observe the technical safety aspects of the systems and activities.
- Review of Japan’s approach to assessing the radiological environmental impact of the discharge.
- Agency presence in Japan, with a local office of technical experts conducting observations, performing sampling and analysis, and gathering information and data.
- Agency review missions continuing on a periodic basis.
- Corroboration of source and environmental monitoring, including interlaboratory comparisons.