Statement by Ambassador HIKIHARA Takeshi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 12 September 2022 Item 4: Nuclear and Radiation Safety
2022/9/12
Thank you, Chair,
Let me first join previous speakers today to congratulate you, Chair, for your election, and assure you the fullest possible support of this delegation to the success of your chairpersonship.
Japan highly appreciates the Agency’s activities described in the Director General’s report entitled ‘Nuclear and Radiation Safety’. Japan thanks Director General Grossi, Deputy Director General Evrard and her team for their tireless efforts. The Agency’s wide-ranging activities are essential in enhancing nuclear safety among Member States.
Chair,
Japan continues to be gravely concerned about the nuclear safety risks in Ukraine, caused by Russia’s aggression.
Japan firmly supports the Director General’s initiative and the efforts of the Secretariat to provide assistance for the safe operation of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including the recent IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
The seven indispensable pillars for maintaining nuclear safety and security established by director general should not be compromised.
Japan strongly urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease all activities preventing the competent Ukrainian Authorities from fully controlling over all nuclear facilities and material within its internationally recognized borders, to restore safe and secure operations by Ukraine.
Japan is deeply concerned about the power status at ZNPP which remained precarious, as reported by the Director General. Japan concurs with the DG's urgent call for the immediate cessation of shelling in the area.
Chair,
Japan continues to attach great importance to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, as well as the Joint Convention. We welcome the outcome of the Seventh Review Meeting of the Joint Convention held earlier this year. Japan will proactively contribute to the success of the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety to be held next March. We will share our regulatory experiences with other Member States at the meetings.
Japan has been actively participating in the work on the establishment and the revision of IAEA safety standards, as well as activities related to ensuring the safety of operating nuclear power plants. Japan has also been supporting, financially and otherwise, the Regulatory Cooperation Forum and the Asian Nuclear Safety Network to develop and strengthen a nuclear regulatory framework for embarking countries. As mentioned in the DG’s report, University of Tokai in Japan cooperated with the IAEA to host the Virtual School of Nuclear and Radiological Leadership for Safety.
Japan remains committed to contributing to the enhancement of global nuclear safety, while further improving our own nuclear regulatory framework. In this context, we thank the IAEA for organizing the International Conference on a Decade of Progress after Fukushima Daiichi last year. We hope that the Member States will make the best use of the results of the conference as summarized in the President’s Report.
Chair,
Regarding TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan has been providing updated comprehensive information to the international community in a highly transparent manner. In July, in response to inquiries from some Member States, Japan provided all Member States and the Secretariat with detailed technical explanation on various aspects of the issue. Further questions or inquiries are always most welcome.
We thank the Secretariat for posting various related materials including information provided by Japan together with the IAEA comments on their website, as well as establishing the special webpage entitled “Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Discharge”.
Japan once again thanks the IAEA for its continuous efforts to monitor and review the process based upon relevant international standards. The IAEA Task Force, including internationally recognized experts, plans to visit Japan for the second review on the safety related aspects of the ALPS treated water in November this year, in addition to the previous safety and regulatory reviews whose reports were already published.
On July 22nd, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority approved the application by TEPCO for amendment of the implementation plan pertaining to the installation of the ALPS treated water discharge facility. With this approval, the safety of the installation plan of the ALPS treated water discharge facility has been confirmed. Based on this step, remaining processes will continue. Among others, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority will conduct its Pre-Service Inspections to check and confirm the installation status of the discharge facilities. The IAEA will continue to conduct its independent review throughout these processes. The Government of Japan will carefully consider the findings and observations from the IAEA’s review, and address them appropriately before the discharge, as necessary.
Japan will continue to ensure safety of the ALPS treated water, while maintaining reliability and transparency of its handling. We also remain committed to promoting further understanding of the international community on the handling of the ALPS treated water.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the report contained in GOV/2022/35.
Thank you, Chair.
Let me first join previous speakers today to congratulate you, Chair, for your election, and assure you the fullest possible support of this delegation to the success of your chairpersonship.
Japan highly appreciates the Agency’s activities described in the Director General’s report entitled ‘Nuclear and Radiation Safety’. Japan thanks Director General Grossi, Deputy Director General Evrard and her team for their tireless efforts. The Agency’s wide-ranging activities are essential in enhancing nuclear safety among Member States.
Chair,
Japan continues to be gravely concerned about the nuclear safety risks in Ukraine, caused by Russia’s aggression.
Japan firmly supports the Director General’s initiative and the efforts of the Secretariat to provide assistance for the safe operation of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including the recent IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
The seven indispensable pillars for maintaining nuclear safety and security established by director general should not be compromised.
Japan strongly urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease all activities preventing the competent Ukrainian Authorities from fully controlling over all nuclear facilities and material within its internationally recognized borders, to restore safe and secure operations by Ukraine.
Japan is deeply concerned about the power status at ZNPP which remained precarious, as reported by the Director General. Japan concurs with the DG's urgent call for the immediate cessation of shelling in the area.
Chair,
Japan continues to attach great importance to the Convention on Nuclear Safety, as well as the Joint Convention. We welcome the outcome of the Seventh Review Meeting of the Joint Convention held earlier this year. Japan will proactively contribute to the success of the Joint Eighth and Ninth Review Meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety to be held next March. We will share our regulatory experiences with other Member States at the meetings.
Japan has been actively participating in the work on the establishment and the revision of IAEA safety standards, as well as activities related to ensuring the safety of operating nuclear power plants. Japan has also been supporting, financially and otherwise, the Regulatory Cooperation Forum and the Asian Nuclear Safety Network to develop and strengthen a nuclear regulatory framework for embarking countries. As mentioned in the DG’s report, University of Tokai in Japan cooperated with the IAEA to host the Virtual School of Nuclear and Radiological Leadership for Safety.
Japan remains committed to contributing to the enhancement of global nuclear safety, while further improving our own nuclear regulatory framework. In this context, we thank the IAEA for organizing the International Conference on a Decade of Progress after Fukushima Daiichi last year. We hope that the Member States will make the best use of the results of the conference as summarized in the President’s Report.
Chair,
Regarding TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan has been providing updated comprehensive information to the international community in a highly transparent manner. In July, in response to inquiries from some Member States, Japan provided all Member States and the Secretariat with detailed technical explanation on various aspects of the issue. Further questions or inquiries are always most welcome.
We thank the Secretariat for posting various related materials including information provided by Japan together with the IAEA comments on their website, as well as establishing the special webpage entitled “Fukushima Daiichi Treated Water Discharge”.
Japan once again thanks the IAEA for its continuous efforts to monitor and review the process based upon relevant international standards. The IAEA Task Force, including internationally recognized experts, plans to visit Japan for the second review on the safety related aspects of the ALPS treated water in November this year, in addition to the previous safety and regulatory reviews whose reports were already published.
On July 22nd, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority approved the application by TEPCO for amendment of the implementation plan pertaining to the installation of the ALPS treated water discharge facility. With this approval, the safety of the installation plan of the ALPS treated water discharge facility has been confirmed. Based on this step, remaining processes will continue. Among others, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority will conduct its Pre-Service Inspections to check and confirm the installation status of the discharge facilities. The IAEA will continue to conduct its independent review throughout these processes. The Government of Japan will carefully consider the findings and observations from the IAEA’s review, and address them appropriately before the discharge, as necessary.
Japan will continue to ensure safety of the ALPS treated water, while maintaining reliability and transparency of its handling. We also remain committed to promoting further understanding of the international community on the handling of the ALPS treated water.
With these comments, Japan takes note of the report contained in GOV/2022/35.
Thank you, Chair.