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TOKYO: The International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday it made “significant progress” on its first mission to review the planned release of treated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant.

Since Monday, an IAEA task force has been in Japan to assess the country’s plan to gradually release the water, which has been processed to remove most radioactive elements, into the ocean.

The officials conducted their safety review on review of the ALPS treated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Okuma, Fukushima prefecture that belongs to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and held meetings with relevant ministries from February 14-18, a government report said Friday.

Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water is water processed by devices that ensure that radioactive that radioactive elements other than tritium meet the regulatory standards for safety.

The team also discussed with the ministry of economy, trade and industry the handling of ALPS treated water and reviewed technical aspects related to the radiological characterization of the water to be discharged, the safety-related aspects of the water discharge process, and Japan’s assessment of the radiological environmental impact about the protection of people and the environment. 

The taskforce collected water and gathered technical information on the trip and will release its findings in late April, the first of several reports in a multi-year review, METI said. In particular, the radiological impact assessment (RIA) conditions on humans and the environment of the discharge of ALPS Treated Water into the Sea, which was released by TEPCO in November last year, were reviewed. 

Ahead of the mission on Tuesday, IAEA delegation members witnessed TEPCO taking samples of the ALPS treated water from the measurement and verification facility, according to METI.

The concentration of radioactive materials will be analyzed by IAEA laboratories again in the future and will coordinate with Japan regarding the implementation details, the ministry said.

*with AFP