Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. (Dean Calma/IAEA)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi joined scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, along with IAEA experts, as they collected seawater samples near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station (FDNPS) today.
The activity is part of the additional measures established after China and Japan agreed to extend the sampling and testing of ALPS treated water which TEPCO – operator of the FDNPS – started to discharge in August 2023.
The IAEA agreed with Japan in September to implement additional measures to facilitate the broader participation from other stakeholder countries in the monitoring of ALPS-treated water.
“By welcoming countries to engage directly in sampling and analysis under the additional measures, Japan is increasing transparency, understanding, and trust, particularly in the region.” said Director General Grossi. “Through these efforts, third parties can independently verify that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards.”
During the sampling today, scientists from the Third Institute of Oceanography in China, the Korean Institute for Nuclear Safety in Republic of Korea and the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.
Director General Grossi collected seawater samples from a boat in the vicinity of the FDNPS.
The samples will be analysed by the IAEA laboratories in Monaco, by laboratories in Japan and in the participating laboratories from China, Korea and Switzerland, each members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, chosen to ensure a high level of proficiency and expert data.
“Additional measures focus on expanding international participation and transparency, allowing hands-on independent measurements of the concentration level of the water,” said Director General Grossi. “This work is conducted within agreed parameters set by the IAEA in its role as an independent, impartial and technical organisation.”
Additionally, IAEA experts stationed at the Agency’s office at FDNPS conduct regular independent on-site analyses of the batches of treated water. The Agency has confirmed that the tritium level in the ten batches of ALPS treated water already released was far below Japan’s operational limit.
The IAEA initiated the first practical steps of the additional measures in October last year when Agency staff carried out marine sampling with international experts from China, Republic of Korea and Switzerland.