"IAEA to Release Final Report on Fukushima Contaminated Water on July 4... Secretary-General Scheduled to Visit Japan"

IAEA Secretary General to Meet Prime Minister Kishida
Expected to Judge 'No Problem'... Countdown to Contaminated Water Discharge

Foreign media reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been verifying Japan's plan to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, is scheduled to release its final verification report on the 4th of next month. The IAEA has previously stated in interim reports that there are no issues with Japan's contaminated water discharge process, making it highly likely that it will effectively grant approval for the release. The Japanese government is expected to begin discharging the contaminated water into the ocean immediately after the IAEA's report is published.

On the 27th, Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has begun scheduling a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on the 4th of next month. Asahi Shimbun stated, "Prime Minister Kishida plans to carefully review the contents of the report before deciding on the timing of the discharge."

Director General Grossi is expected to deliver the final report evaluating the contaminated water discharge plan and explain it to Prime Minister Kishida during the meeting. The contents of the report are expected to be made public at the time of delivery. It is also known that Grossi is considering visiting Fukushima after the meeting with the Prime Minister.

The IAEA's final report is expected to include ▲ the safety of discharging contaminated water into the ocean ▲ the appropriateness of the Nuclear Regulation Authority's response ▲ and the results of sample investigations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Japanese government requested the IAEA to investigate to verify whether the contaminated water discharge complies with international standards, but the IAEA is likely to conclude that there are no significant problems. In its interim report released on the 1st, the IAEA also stated that Japan's method of measuring radioactive substances in the contaminated water was appropriate.

Sankei Shimbun also reported in a related article the previous day that "the IAEA maintains the position that the discharge is reasonable and is expected to support (Japan's) plan."

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which manages the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, has also begun full-scale preparations for the discharge in line with the report's release schedule. Since the 12th, it has started trial operations of the discharge facilities, and the day before, it completed construction of the underwater tunnel that dilutes and releases the contaminated water into the ocean. From the 28th, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority will conduct the final pre-discharge inspection to verify the performance of the entire facility.

The timing of the discharge is expected to be decided by Prime Minister Kishida. Sankei Shimbun quoted a senior official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as saying, "The Prime Minister will make the final decision once the 'three-part set'?completion of discharge facility construction, completion of the Nuclear Regulation Authority's pre-discharge inspection, and the IAEA's final report?is in place."

However, opposition from local fisheries stakeholders as well as from China and South Korea remains strong regarding the contaminated water discharge. On the 22nd, the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations of Japan adopted a special resolution opposing the discharge and its chairman held a meeting with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

A Japanese government official explained to Asahi Shimbun, "We have no choice but to explain the safety scientifically," adding, "We intend to gain understanding domestically and internationally based on the report."