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UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Visits Japan Amid Fukushima Cleanup Efforts
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is set to arrive in Japan on Tuesday, marking his fifth official visit. This trip includes his inaugural tour of storage facilities containing soil contaminated as a result of the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The IAEA is closely observing the extensive and gradual decommissioning process of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which suffered a catastrophic meltdown following a tsunami, representing the most serious nuclear incident since Chernobyl.
In recent developments, efforts have commenced to dismantle wastewater storage tanks at the devastated facility, paving the way to manage significant amounts of nuclear waste. This dismantling process was initiated last week, reflecting the ongoing struggle to clean up and secure the area.
Grossi’s tour will take place on Wednesday, where he will be briefed on the handling of contaminated soil, a pressing issue currently under governmental review. The aftermath of the disaster led to the removal of approximately 13 million cubic meters of soil and around 300,000 cubic meters of ash from incinerated organic materials across the Fukushima region as part of decontamination initiatives.
For perspective, the volume of soil removed is comparable to the capacity of the Tokyo Dome, which can hold about 1.24 million cubic meters. This soil is currently housed in interim storage facilities that span a total area of 16 square kilometers (about six square miles).
The Japanese government has announced plans to recycle approximately 75 percent of the extracted soil deemed to have low levels of radioactivity. If affirmed safe, this material is intended for use in civil engineering projects, such as constructing embankments for roads and railways, according to officials from both the government and the IAEA.
The remaining contaminated soil is slated for disposal outside of the Fukushima area by 2045. This urgent timeline has prompted calls from regional officials, including the governor of Fukushima, for a swift resolution regarding the disposal sites, which the government aims to confirm within the year.
In a recent report, the IAEA noted that Japan’s strategy for managing the recycling and disposal of radioactive waste aligns with their safety standards. The Fukushima plant was severely impacted by a tsunami, triggered by an earthquake in March 2011, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 18,000 lives.
The most daunting aspect of cleaning up the Fukushima facility, which involves the extraction of about 880 tonnes of radioactive materials from three compromised reactors, has only just begun, with efforts now utilizing robotic technology for sample collection.
During Grossi’s visit, experts from the IAEA, alongside representatives from neighboring nations such as China and South Korea, will also collect samples of seawater and fish. This initiative aims to bolster transparency concerning the release of treated wastewater into the ocean, a process that has garnered mixed reactions.
As of August 2023, plant operator TEPCO commenced the controlled discharge of 1.3 million tonnes of treated water, which includes groundwater, seawater, and rainwater, along with water utilized for cooling the reactors. This procedure has been validated by the IAEA, with assurances that all radioactive elements, save for tritium, are within safe parameters.
Despite these endorsements, some nations, particularly China and Russia, have strongly criticized the water release, leading to a ban on Japanese seafood imports due to safety apprehensions. Recently, China indicated it would tentatively resume seafood imports from Japan, although this process has yet to commence.
As the situation continues to evolve, the urgency for a comprehensive and transparent approach to the cleanup and management of Fukushima’s radioactive waste remains a pivotal concern.
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