Main Points of Statement by Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano at the Board of Governors Meeting Item 6: Report on the Fukushima Daiichi Accident
2015/6/10
-Japan highly appreciates the efforts of the Agency for preparing the report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
- The report is the result of an extensive international collaborative effort, reflecting a variety of international perspectives of experts from all over
the world.
- The report will provide us with essential international guidance for Member States to further enhance their nuclear safety.
- It is our responsibility to share the experiences and lessons learned from the accident with Member States.
- Japan continues to contribute to strengthening international nuclear safety.
- Japan has undertaken many measures based on the experiences and the lessons learned from the accident.
【Review of the regulatory framework for nuclear safety】
- Japan has reviewed and conducted a fundamental restructuring of the nuclear regulatory structure since the accident.
- In September 2012, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) was established in order to completely separate the functions of promotion
and regulation of the nuclear energy industry.
- The NRA exercises their authority as an independent and neutral Organisation, based on their expertise and technical know-how, and
assumes responsibility for the administration of nuclear regulation, nuclear security, safeguards, radiation monitoring and the use of
radioisotopes.
- Japan revised and strengthened the Reactor Regulation Act in June 2012, in order to incorporate the lessons learned from the accident.
- The main points of revision include (1) strengthening countermeasures against severe accidents; (2) introduction of a back-fit system; and (3)
introduction of maximum operational period.
- The NRA conducted a fundamental review of its nuclear regulations and put into force new regulatory requirements for nuclear power
stations in July 2013.
- These new requirements enhanced regulatory criteria against natural events such as earthquake and tsunami.
- The new requirements require counter-measures to prevent core damage, maintain containment integrity and supress radioactive
materials dispersion even if a severe accident occurs.
- Japan will receive an IRRS mission towards the end of this year. Japan expects to receive a practical review from an international
viewpoint regarding our new regulatory framework for nuclear safety.
【Progress on Decommissioning Measures】
- Although decommissioning measures are of unprecedented difficulty, we observe that progress is steadily being made.
- The removal of the fuels stored in the spent fuel pool at Unit 4 was completed in December last year.
- TEPCO has been implementing “Groundwater Bypassing” measures since last May.
- Test freezing has been conducted on the mountain-side wall since April.
- TEPCO deployed the specially designed robotic machine into the PCV of Unit 1 in April, which obtained vital information such as images,
radiation doses, and temperatures inside the PCV.
- Japan has received various missions organized by the Agency. The advice from the missions is extremely useful to continuously
strengthen nuclear safety in Japan.
- Japan hosted in February the third “IAEA International Peer Review Missions on the Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap towards the
Decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Units 1-4”. The additional dispatch of IAEA experts in April was followed by
the final report of the Mission in May.
- Japan also received the third marine monitoring mission in May.
【Public communication】
- Providing information on general nuclear safety issues in Japan to the Japanese public and to the international society in a transparent a
manner as possible is one of the most important undertaking and responsibility of Japan.
- Japan has provided information on the current situation at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS in a comprehensive and timely manner to the
IAEA secretariat. The IAEA secretariat has just uploaded latest information on the IAEA website with their evaluating comments on
8th June.
- The NRA compiles the results of marine monitoring data sampled and analyzed by relevant organizations in an integrated manner and
provides these results to the IAEA secretariat on a weekly basis.
- TEPCO also provides related information in its capacity as an operator of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS.
- Providing related information on food products is important.
- The results of the survey on radionuclide concentration in food products are made available to the public on websites of related
institutions in English.
- If a radioactive material above the designated standard in food product is detected in a particular area, relevant authority introduces
restrictions on distribution of such food product from particular areas and particular food item.
- The IAEA has concluded that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are
appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under control.
- Japan will continue such efforts with transparency and welcome people from other countries to visit Fukushima to see the progress on
decommissioning measures at Fukushima Daiichi NPS and the current status of local restoration on the ground.
- The report is the result of an extensive international collaborative effort, reflecting a variety of international perspectives of experts from all over
the world.
- The report will provide us with essential international guidance for Member States to further enhance their nuclear safety.
- It is our responsibility to share the experiences and lessons learned from the accident with Member States.
- Japan continues to contribute to strengthening international nuclear safety.
- Japan has undertaken many measures based on the experiences and the lessons learned from the accident.
【Review of the regulatory framework for nuclear safety】
- Japan has reviewed and conducted a fundamental restructuring of the nuclear regulatory structure since the accident.
- In September 2012, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) was established in order to completely separate the functions of promotion
and regulation of the nuclear energy industry.
- The NRA exercises their authority as an independent and neutral Organisation, based on their expertise and technical know-how, and
assumes responsibility for the administration of nuclear regulation, nuclear security, safeguards, radiation monitoring and the use of
radioisotopes.
- Japan revised and strengthened the Reactor Regulation Act in June 2012, in order to incorporate the lessons learned from the accident.
- The main points of revision include (1) strengthening countermeasures against severe accidents; (2) introduction of a back-fit system; and (3)
introduction of maximum operational period.
- The NRA conducted a fundamental review of its nuclear regulations and put into force new regulatory requirements for nuclear power
stations in July 2013.
- These new requirements enhanced regulatory criteria against natural events such as earthquake and tsunami.
- The new requirements require counter-measures to prevent core damage, maintain containment integrity and supress radioactive
materials dispersion even if a severe accident occurs.
- Japan will receive an IRRS mission towards the end of this year. Japan expects to receive a practical review from an international
viewpoint regarding our new regulatory framework for nuclear safety.
【Progress on Decommissioning Measures】
- Although decommissioning measures are of unprecedented difficulty, we observe that progress is steadily being made.
- The removal of the fuels stored in the spent fuel pool at Unit 4 was completed in December last year.
- TEPCO has been implementing “Groundwater Bypassing” measures since last May.
- Test freezing has been conducted on the mountain-side wall since April.
- TEPCO deployed the specially designed robotic machine into the PCV of Unit 1 in April, which obtained vital information such as images,
radiation doses, and temperatures inside the PCV.
- Japan has received various missions organized by the Agency. The advice from the missions is extremely useful to continuously
strengthen nuclear safety in Japan.
- Japan hosted in February the third “IAEA International Peer Review Missions on the Mid-and-Long-Term Roadmap towards the
Decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Units 1-4”. The additional dispatch of IAEA experts in April was followed by
the final report of the Mission in May.
- Japan also received the third marine monitoring mission in May.
【Public communication】
- Providing information on general nuclear safety issues in Japan to the Japanese public and to the international society in a transparent a
manner as possible is one of the most important undertaking and responsibility of Japan.
- Japan has provided information on the current situation at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS in a comprehensive and timely manner to the
IAEA secretariat. The IAEA secretariat has just uploaded latest information on the IAEA website with their evaluating comments on
8th June.
- The NRA compiles the results of marine monitoring data sampled and analyzed by relevant organizations in an integrated manner and
provides these results to the IAEA secretariat on a weekly basis.
- TEPCO also provides related information in its capacity as an operator of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS.
- Providing related information on food products is important.
- The results of the survey on radionuclide concentration in food products are made available to the public on websites of related
institutions in English.
- If a radioactive material above the designated standard in food product is detected in a particular area, relevant authority introduces
restrictions on distribution of such food product from particular areas and particular food item.
- The IAEA has concluded that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are
appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under control.
- Japan will continue such efforts with transparency and welcome people from other countries to visit Fukushima to see the progress on
decommissioning measures at Fukushima Daiichi NPS and the current status of local restoration on the ground.
The Practical Export Control Workshop was hosted by the Wassenaar Arrangement as part of its 20th Anniversary programs and held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on 27 and 28 June 2016. More than 100 government representatives from 46 countries participated in the technically focused Practical Workshop.
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf