Press Releases
Briefing Session to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Experts on the Current Status of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
On February 9, a face-to-face briefing session to the PIF Secretariat and the experts on ALPS treated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) was conducted. Officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), and staff from TEPCO, on the Japanese side; Director Sione Tekiteki from Governance and Engagement, PIF Secretariat and experts, on the PIF side attended the session.
- During the briefing session, the Japanese side explained an overview of planned discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and the technical details, including radiological environmental impact assessment in response to the questions by the PIF side. Specifically, the Japanese side provided scientifically based explanations of (1) the entire process of the treatment of water containing radioactive materials, (2) removal of cesium and strontium by cesium adsorption device, (3) treatment flow of ALPS and removal performance of ALPS, (4) measurement and assessment of radioactive materials prior to discharge into the sea, and (5) review of radioactive materials to be measured and assessed.
- In order to further deepen the understanding of the matters discussed on February 9th, the PIF delegation visited the FDNPS on February 10th.
- Discharge of ALPS treated water was discussed in the meetings between the delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), led by Hon. Mark BROWN，Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry respectively on February 6th and 7th. Japan and PIF Secretariat and the experts concurred on continuously conduct briefing sessions, and Japan will continue to provide the Pacific Islands countries and regions with explanations based on scientific evidence in a highly transparent and sincere manner, while continuing to undergo the reviews by the IAEA.
[NOTE1] ALPS treated water
ALPS treated water is water which is processed by devices such as ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) to ensure that the radioactive materials other than tritium surely meet the regulatory standards for safety. In addition, it is planned that ALPS treated water will then be sufficiently diluted before the discharges so that the concentrations of the radioactive materials including tritium will be far below the regulatory standards for safety.
[NOTE3] Chronology of Briefing Session to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on the Current Status of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
June 2nd 2022 the first briefing session (online)
June 16th 2022 the second briefing session (online)
July 1st 2022 the third briefing session (online)