Japan—If there is no interference due to weather or sea conditions, the discharge of Fukushima Daiichi ALPS Treated Water into the sea is expected to start on 24 August.  

The Government of Japan announced today that it requested Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) to promptly proceed with its preparations for the discharge into the sea of ALPS-treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, in accordance with the implementation plan approved by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.

Over the past two years, the IAEA has conducted a detailed review of the safety-related aspects of handling and discharge of ALPS-treated water and issued its comprehensive report on 4 July 2023.

The report concluded that the approach and activities for this discharge are consistent with relevant international safety standards and would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.

The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has committed to the IAEA continuing its impartial, independent, and objective safety review during the discharge phase.

Therefore, the IAEA and Japan agreed that the IAEA will maintain an onsite presence at Fukushima Daiichi, and the IAEA opened its IAEA Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) Office in July 2023.

“IAEA staff are working there so that they can continue to monitor and assess these activities on site to ensure that they continue to be consistent with the safety standards, including on the day of the start of the discharge and after,” says Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA.

They will also publish available data for use by the global community, including the provision of real-time and near-real-time monitoring data. As soon as the discharge commences, the IAEA will provide a further update.