An IAEA expert team today completed a review of Japan's efforts to plan and implement the decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The International Peer Review of Japan's Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap towards the Decommissioning of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Units 1-4 conducted its visit from 25 November to 4 December 2013.
The 19-member team praised Japan for adopting a more proactive approach towards addressing the many complex challenges posed by the nuclear accident. Relevant authorities have evolved their strategies over time to develop sustainable solutions.
"Japan has established a good foundation to improve its strategy and to allocate the necessary resources to conduct the safe decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi," said team leader Juan Carlos Lentijo, IAEA Director of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology. "The situation, however, remains very complex, and there will continue to be very challenging issues that must be resolved to ensure the Plant's long-term stability."
As requested by the Government of Japan, the team examined a wide variety of issues related to decommissioning the Power Plant, focusing particularly on Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) removal of fuel assemblies from Reactor Unit 4's Spent Fuel Pool and on contaminated water management issues. In addition, the review mission considered Japan's efforts to monitor radiation conditions in the marine environment, including seawater, sediments, and biota.
The team delivered a Preliminary Summary Report with a set of 19 acknowledgements and 19 advisory points for Japan's consideration.
The full report will be delivered to Japan in about two months.