Press Releases
Visit of Ms. Herviou, Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to Japan (Results)
From February 5 to 10, Ms. Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited Japan.
- During the visit, Deputy Director General Herviou closed the IRRS mission which reviewed Japan’s nuclear regulation. On February 9, she also visited Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO)’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) and observed the facilities for the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, the facilities for conducting measurement and analysis, as well as the efforts for decommissioning, and exchanged opinions with TEPCO officials.
- In addition, on 10th, Deputy Director General Herviou paid a courtesy call on Dr. KUNIMITSU Ayano, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and held meetings with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment, and Nuclear Regulation Authority, among others, to discuss topics such as efforts for the decommissioning process of TEPCO’s FDNPS including the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and the utilization of the removed soil for managed recycling, as well as efforts for ensuring nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and strengthening international nuclear safety.
- The Government of Japan will continue to maintain close coordination with the IAEA in explaining the situation of TEPCO's FDNPS and the safety of the discharge of the ALPS treated water into the sea, to the international community in a transparent manner based on scientific evidence, and will foster better understanding within both the domestic and international communities.
(Reference1) Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS)
The IAEA has been conducting IRRS in response to the request of member states. This review service comprehensively evaluates a wide range of issues, including legal systems and organizations related to nuclear regulation.
(Reference2) LPS treated water
ALPS treated water is water that contained radioactive substances from inside the buildings of TEPCO’s FDNPS, and has been purified and treated through multiple treatment facilities, including ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System), until the concentrations of all radioactive substances besides tritium satisfy the safety regulatory standards. As for tritium, the water is significantly diluted with seawater before the discharge into the sea so that it fully satisfies safety regulatory standards.