IAEA Chief Visits Fukushima Amid Protests Over Nuclear-Contaminated Water Release

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi recently wrapped up a visit to Japan that included an inspection of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The visit took place against a backdrop of local protests, as citizens voiced their concerns regarding the planned ocean discharge of water tainted by nuclear contaminants. Japanese civic groups have been urging TEPCO, the operator of the damaged plant, to provide complete transparency about the discharge process while pressing the government to assess its long-term consequences.

During the visit, Grossi also toured an interim storage facility in Fukushima Prefecture that currently holds soil contaminated by the 2011 nuclear disaster. Approximately 13 million cubic meters of soil, comparable in volume to what would fill ten stadiums, has been removed from the region, along with 300,000 cubic meters of ash from incinerated organic material. In addition, experts from the IAEA as well as representatives from China and South Korea collected samples of seawater and fish in Fukushima to help monitor the situation further.

At a press conference in Tokyo, Grossi acknowledged the significant role played by Chinese experts, whose participation in the monitoring process was welcomed. The collaboration was seen as a step toward ensuring rigorous oversight of the discharge, with Grossi expressing hope that similar cooperative efforts would continue. China's Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, confirming that their experts were involved during the visit and emphasizing the continuation of independent monitoring.

Grossi also pointed out that nations such as China, which have raised concerns about the current monitoring system, are interested in taking a more active role. In response to these concerns, and after discussions with Japan, he proposed expanding the involvement of international experts within the framework of the IAEA. This change would allow those from various countries with established laboratory networks to participate actively by collecting samples, sending them to their home nations, and conducting their own evaluations independently.

Despite the collaborative steps, public skepticism regarding the reliability and transparency of the monitoring process remains high. Local voices like that of Takae Miyaguchi have called for TEPCO to disclose all relevant information openly, while also urging a thorough governmental review of the potential long-term impacts. Other experts and representatives of civic groups have stressed the need for an independent oversight body that could include local residents and international scientists to ensure that the assessment of the radioactive water discharge remains objective and comprehensive.