Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A decade on from the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, the International Atomic Energy Agency held a five-day discussion forum based in Vienna to look back at the incident and to see what lessons could be learned.

The event featured panel discussions by nuclear experts around the world with some participants online. Koichi Hagiuda, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made the opening remarks via video message at the special session on the safety of ALPS treated water. ALPS is the Advanced Liquid Processing System utilized to ensure that radioactive materials are filtered out of water to meet the regulatory standards for safety.

 It is hoped that the results of the forum and the reporting by various national and international bodies will help identify ways for strengthening nuclear safety in the future. The conference was attended by government officials, regulators, electric power companies, nuclear experts, and other specialists from Japan and other countries. 

Hikihara Takeshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna made a speech, in which he emphasized the importance of strengthening nuclear safetyand explained Japan’s efforts on nuclear safety. He stated that Japan will continue to enhance its own domestic nuclear safety, and contribute to strengthening nuclear safety worldwide in cooperation with the IAEA. 

Hagiuda explained the Basic Policy on handling of ALPS-treated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and stated that the government of Japan will engage in reviews conducted by the IAEA, and will widely communicate the outcomes of these reviews.