In a significant development, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its first comprehensive report on the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. The report, published on January 30th, concludes that the discharge is "consistent with international safety standards."
This endorsement follows a meticulous review by an IAEA task force, which visited Japan in October 2023 to assess the safety measures implemented for the discharge. The team's inspections included meetings with Japanese authorities, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), and on-site visits to the plant.
The report reaffirms the findings of a previous IAEA assessment conducted in July 2023, prior to the commencement of the discharge. That report concluded that the planned discharge would have minimal radiological impact on humans and the environment.
The latest report emphasizes the compliance of the discharge facilities with international safety standards. Furthermore, the IAEA pledges to continue monitoring the discharge and plans a subsequent review this spring.
The IAEA stresses the significance of ongoing measurements of radioactive substance concentrations in seawater and fish in the vicinity of the plant, conducted by TEPCO and the Japanese government. These measurements, along with independent verification by the IAEA, are crucial for maintaining transparency and international confidence in the discharge process.