Special Feature
10 Years Since the Great East Japan Earthquake
6 Strengthening Cooperation with the International Community in the Area of Nuclear Safety
In November, the IAEA held a five-day experts' conference (in hybrid format) in Vienna on the occasion of 10 years after the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident.
The purpose of this conference was to reflect on the lessons and experiences drawn from the actions taken by the respective countries and international organizations throughout the decade after the earthquake disaster, and to identify pathways for further strengthening nuclear safety in the future. It was attended by regulatory authorities, power utilities, nuclear experts, and academia from various countries, who engaged in lively exchanges of views.
Following opening remarks by IAEA Director General Grossi, Ambassador Hikihara Takeshi, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, delivered remarks in which he noted the importance of strengthening nuclear safety and introduced the status of nuclear safety initiatives in Japan. He also spoke about Japan's contributions toward strengthening global nuclear safety in cooperation with the IAEA, alongside Japan's continued efforts to realize nuclear safety.
At the special session of the conference on ALPS treated water, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda Koichi presented a video message in which he explained the Basic Policy on handling of ALPS treated water at the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and stated that Japan will work to widely disseminate the results of reviews conducted by the IAEA on the safety of ALPS treated water.
In addition, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) released a report in March, titled “Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident, Ten Years On: Progress, Lessons and Challenges.” This report introduces the activities that the OECD/NEA has been engaged in with the international community after the accident, and proposes future activities for the international cooperation program.