27 December, 2021
TEPCO Submits Application to NRA for Facilities to Deal with ALPS-Treated Water at Fukushima Daiichi
On December 21, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan regarding the basic design of the ALPS-treated water dilution and discharge facility and more.
One day earlier, prior to the submission, TEPCO had submitted requests for prior consent to Fukushima Prefecture, Okuma Town and Futaba Town based on the agreement to ensure safety in surrounding areas related to the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs),.
Under the Law for the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors (the Reactor Regulation Law), the Fukushima Daiichi NPPs are designated as a specified nuclear facility on account of their damaged reactors. Given that, TEPCO is required to obtain a permission from the NRA for any change to facilities that secure safety.
The ALPS-treated water dilution and discharge facility comprises one facility for measurement and confirmation and another for dilution. Sampling and ana...more
- 7 October, 2021 Kishida Administration Inaugurated, with New METI Minister Hagiuda Holding Press Conference on Taking Office
- 6 October, 2021 IAEA Holds 65th General Conference in Vienna, with Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Delivering Statement in the General Debate
- 30 September, 2021 JAEC Releases 2020 White Paper on Nuclear Energy
- 14 September, 2021 IAEA Deputy Director General Evrard Visits Japan in Advance of Safety Review of ALPS-treated Water
- 1 September, 2021 Evaluation Report Issued by IAEA’s Review Mission to Fukushima Daiichi: First Visit since 2018
- 24 August, 2021 METI and IAEA Agree on Further Review Missions to Fukushima Daiichi
- 2 August, 2021 Information about Fukushima Daiichi NPS Water Treatment
- 16 June, 2021 Japanese Cabinet Approves Environmental White Paper 2021
- 14 June, 2021 Working Group on Offshore Release of Treated Water Meets in Miyagi
- 14 June, 2021 NRA Considers Policy on Treating Slurry from ALPS, with Local Understanding Essential
- 8 June, 2021 TEPCO to Develop Sample Tanks at Fukushima Daiichi to Prepare for Offshore Release of Treated Water
- 8 June, 2021 Local Concerns About Unfounded Fears and Rumors on Offshore Release of Treated Water
- 31 May, 2021 Information about Fukushima Daiichi NPPs Water Treatment
21 October, 2021
Kishida Makes First Visit to Fukushima Since Becoming Prime Minister
On October 17, Prime MinisterFumio Kishida visited Fukushima Prefecture, which had been struck by a massive earthquake and nuclear accident in March 2011. There, he toured decommissioning sites and elsewhere at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants（NPPs） belonging to the Tokyo Electric Power Co.（TEPCO）
Regarding the release into the sea of water treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS-treated water), he told the press that seeing the overwhelming number of storage tanks, he keenly realized the importance of the issue, adding that action could not be postponed.
In April, the former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had decided to release the water into the sea. TEPCO plans to start the release in the spring of 2023.
Referring to opposition to the water release by various local parties, Prime Minister Kishida emphatically said, “Working together with the IAEA, the Japanese government will act transparently and explain the safety of the water from a scientific point of view. We will make full efforts to eliminate concerns.”
Positioning NPPs as an option to supply electri...more
