Dialogue with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Experts on the Current Status of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

On Friday, April 14, a dialogue with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat and Experts was organized on the current status of ALPS treated water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS).

Holding the dialogue was concurred  in the meetings between the delegation of the PIF, led by Hon. Mark BROWN, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Mr. NISHIMURA Yasutoshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry respectively on February 6th and 7th, in which both sides concurred in the importance of an intensive dialogue on the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, and the 2023 PIF Special Leaders Retreat on February 23 in which PIF leaders expressed its support for intensifying political and scientific dialogue with Japan on this matter.

During the meeting, the Japanese side explained based on the scientific evidence especially on Safety of the water before discharge and the impact of Organically Bound Tritium, long-term accumulation and biological concentration, that the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea is conducted safely, and it is essential for the decommissioning work necessary for the reconstruction of Fukushima, and that it will never cause any harmful impact on Japan or the Pacific region because it will be strictly done under internationally accepted approaches and in full compliance with safety standards, followed by a Q&A session with the attendees.

Based on the commitment at the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) in July 2021, all of the related Ministries and Agencies of the Government of Japan will continue to work together to explain thoroughly the situation of the FDNPS to the Pacific Island countries based on the scientific evidence in a transparent manner.