METI and IAEA Strengthen Cooperation on SMRs and Capacity Building

Under the MoC, METI and the IAEA will work together to support countries considering the introduction of nuclear power by promoting infrastructure development, human resource development, and other capacity-building initiatives related to SMRs and other advanced nuclear technologies.

At the meeting, Minister Akazawa referred to Director General Grossi’s visit to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station last year, noting that the plant’s restart in April 2026 has contributed to improving electricity supply stability and strengthening power capacity in eastern Japan. He reiterated Japan’s policy of prioritizing safety while maximizing the use of existing reactors, advancing the development of next-generation advanced reactors, and steadily implementing backend measures.

Regarding the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Akazawa stressed the importance of continuing to ensure safety and provide transparent information, including on the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the sea. He expressed appreciation for the IAEA’s ongoing support and cooperation, recalling Director General Grossi’s statement during his July 2023 visit to Fukushima that the Agency would “remain on the ground until the last drop of ALPS-treated water is safely discharged.”

Akazawa also referred to efforts toward the completion of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and expressed Japan’s intention to continue working closely with the IAEA to strengthen safeguards and maintain international confidence in its nuclear fuel cycle program.

Director General Grossi described the partnership with Japan as “extremely important and strategically significant.” He said the newly signed MoC reflects a shared vision for the future of nuclear energy and mutual trust between the two sides, adding that the cooperation will contribute not only to Japan’s nuclear sector but also to the development of the global nuclear industry.

Grossi also praised Japan’s cooperation with the IAEA on the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning project and the discharge of ALPS-treated water. He said the efforts by the Japanese government, METI, and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) to ensure transparency “serve as an international model.”