The International Roundtable on Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste to be Held

1．Overview and purpose

Realization of final disposal of high-level radioactive waste is a common challenge for all nuclear power using countries, and we believe that it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in order to accelerate efforts made by each country.

From this point of view, we could agree, in the discussions at the G20 Karuizawa Ministerial Meeting, with the launch of the first ever "International Roundtable on Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste" in which the governments of major nuclear power using countries participate.

At the International Roundtable, we are planning to discuss and share experiences and knowledge of public understanding activities, and research cooperation and personnel exchange, using underground research facilities in each country, in order to realize final disposal.

As a result of the discussion in the International Roundtable, we are planning to formulate the basic strategies and best practices for international cooperation in realizing final disposal, and we expect that they will contribute to encourage further efforts made by each country.

Responsibility for final disposal needs to be taken. It should not be left to future generations. The government will continue to work hard to realize final disposal, with active international cooperation.

2. Date and Place

The first international roundtable will be held in Paris in mid-October with the cooperation of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/NEA).

• ※ Joint press conference on the launch of “the International Roundtable on Final Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste” held on Sunday, June 16
  (The participants are, from right to left, Mr. Anton Inyutsyn, Deputy Minister of Energy (Russia); Mr. Jari Gustafsson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland); Mr. Dan Brouillette, Deputy Secretary of Energy (the United States); Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry (Japan); Mr. William D. Magwood, IV, Director-General (OECD/NEA); Mr. Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary of Natural Resources Canada (Canada); Mrs. Carole Lancereau, Head of the International Affairs Unit, General Directorate for Energy and Climate Change (France))

Related Documents

• Launch of the international roundtable for final disposal of high-level radioactive waste(PDF:241KB)

Divisions in Charge

• Radioactive Waste Management Policy Division, Electricity and Gas Industry Department,
• Agency for Natural Resources and Energy,
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of JAPAN