The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan on February 19. This visit coincides with Japan's strategic shift back to nuclear power to meet the increasing energy demands driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. The Tokyo government recently approved an energy plan that aims to increase nuclear energy's contribution to 20% of the national supply by 2040, up from 5.6% in 2022.
Grossi's visit highlights the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) commitment to monitoring Japan's efforts in decommissioning the Fukushima plant, a site of the 2011 nuclear disaster triggered by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. This catastrophe claimed 18,000 lives and marked the worst nuclear incident since Chernobyl. In a related move, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant operator, began discharging 1.3 million tonnes of treated water into the sea in 2023. Despite criticism and seafood import bans from countries like China and Russia, both TEPCO and the IAEA assert that all radioactive elements except tritium have been filtered out, and its levels are within safe limits.
"At a moment where Japan is embarking on a gradual return to nuclear energy in its national energy mix, it is important that this is also done in complete safety and with the confidence of the society." – Rafael Grossi
The Fukushima cleanup has generated significant waste, including approximately 300,000 cubic meters of ash from incinerated organic material. This material is currently stored and will be disposed of outside the Fukushima region by the 2045 deadline. To further manage radiation risks, around 13 million cubic meters of contaminated soil were removed from the area. Japan plans to recycle about 75% of this soil for infrastructure projects, such as road and railway embankments, as it contains low levels of radioactivity. The IAEA's final report, published in September, confirmed that Japan's approach aligns with United Nations safety standards.
This return to nuclear power marks a departure from Japan's earlier commitment to reduce reliance on nuclear energy as much as possible. The shift comes as Japan faces the challenge of removing around 880 tonnes of radioactive debris from the Fukushima reactors. While this pivot towards nuclear power aims to address the pressing energy needs, it also raises questions about waste management and environmental safety.
Olivier Evrard, a scientist studying the Fukushima disaster's impact, noted that the cleanup process "generated a massive amount of waste and still poses fertility issues." This underscores the ongoing environmental concerns linked to nuclear energy production and waste.
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