May 6, 2025 3:39 am
Full News

UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Visits Japan to Inspect Fukushima Soil Storage Facilities

TOKYO – The UN nuclear watchdog chief arrived in Japan on February 18 for a trip that will include his first visit to storage facilities housing vast quantities of soil contaminated in the 2011 Fukushima disaster. It is the fifth official visit to the country by Mr. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA is monitoring the decades-long process to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which went into meltdown after being hit by a tsunami in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Workers at the wrecked plant on Japan’s northeast coast began dismantling wastewater tanks last week to free up space for tonnes of radioactive debris.

Mr. Grossi will tour the site on February 19 and will also be shown the stored soil that authorities must decide how to handle. As part of decontamination efforts after the disaster, about 13 million cubic metres of soil was removed from the wider Fukushima region, along with about 300,000 cubic metres of ash from the incineration of organic material. For comparison, the Tokyo Dome arena, where US pop superstar Taylor Swift performed in 2024, has a capacity of 1.24 million cubic metres. The soil is being kept at interim storage facilities over a total area of 16 square kilometres.

Japan plans to recycle roughly 75 percent of the removed soil – the portion found to have low radioactivity levels. If this material is confirmed safe, the government intends to use it for building embankments for roads and railways, among other projects. The remaining soil will be disposed of outside the Fukushima region ahead of a 2045 deadline. The government has said it intends to confirm the disposal site in 2025, with Fukushima’s regional governor reportedly urging them to come up with a plan quickly.

In its final report on the soil issue, published in September 2024, the IAEA said that “Japan’s approach for recycling and disposing of soil and radioactive waste from decontamination activities… is consistent with IAEA safety standards.” Stripping topsoil from the land was “very effective” at decontaminating areas close to waterways, said Dr. Olivier Evrard, research director at France’s Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). “However, it also has many disadvantages. It had an enormous cost, it generated a massive amount of waste, and still poses fertility issues” for agriculture, he told AFP.

Dr. Evrard, an expert on the Fukushima decommissioning process, compared the approach to the decision taken after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to fence off a large area and more or less “leave it to wildlife.” For the Fukushima soil, “you can imagine it’s not very simple to find willing takers to accept these materials,” he said. Another option could be to wait for radioactivity levels to decrease naturally while the soil is stored, Dr. Evrard added.

The Fukushima plant was hit by a huge earthquake-triggered tsunami in March 2011 that killed 18,000 people. The most dangerous part of the complex plant clean-up – removing around 880 tonnes of radioactive fuel and rubble from three stricken reactors – has only just begun, with one tiny sample removed by a robotic claw.

During Mr. Grossi’s visit, experts from the IAEA and countries including China and South Korea will also take seawater and fish samples “to further increase the transparency” of the process of releasing treated wastewater into the sea, an official from Japan’s energy agency said. Plant operator Tepco in August 2023 began discharging 1.3 million tonnes of collected groundwater, seawater, and rainwater, along with water used for cooling the reactors. The water release has been endorsed by the IAEA, and Tepco says all radioactive elements have been filtered out except for tritium, levels of which are within safe limits.

However, countries including China and Russia have criticised the release and banned Japanese seafood imports over safety concerns. China in September 2024 said it would “gradually resume” importing seafood from Japan, but this has yet to begin.

Related News
IAEA Observers Fail to Visit Zaporizhzhia Amid Military Activity
Thanos Returning in New Avengers Movie
Putin Invites Myanmar Junta Chief to Russia’s Independence Day Parade
Pakistan to Issue Formal Notice to India Over Indus Waters Treaty Suspension
No freedom of expression in Bangladesh: Creative Writers Association
Popular Bangladeshi TV Show ‘Ityadi’ Faces Backlash Over Islamophobia and Misogyny Allegations
Related Posts
Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Possible “At Any Moment
Pakistan Accuses India of Violating Indus Waters Treaty, Prepares Formal Notice
India Suspends Indus Water Treaty Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan
Myanmar Junta May Weaponize Nuclear Power Plant, Warns UN Envoy
India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate Following Pahalgam Attack
Trump Announces 100% Tariff on All Foreign Films
More News

Chinese Doctors Successfully Transplant Genetically Modified Pig Liver into Human for First Time

XI’AN, March 26 – In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Chinese doctors have transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a brain-dead human for the first time, offering hope for future organ donation solutions. The procedure, conducted by doctors at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, involved a liver from a miniature pig with six […]

Megan Fox & MGK Make First Appearance Since Baby Girl’s Birth

Hollywood power couple Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly were spotted in public for the first time since the arrival of their baby girl. The duo, who have kept a relatively low profile since announcing their daughter’s birth in March, were photographed during a laid-back grocery run in Calabasas, California, on April 18. In images […]

G7 Reaffirms Support for Ukraine as Zelenskyy Aims to End War in 2025

The G7 leaders have pledged unwavering support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, echoing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s aspiration to end the war by 2025 through diplomatic efforts. In a radio interview aired on Saturday, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to pursuing peace talks while ensuring the nation’s territorial integrity remains intact. He also expressed […]

10 Killed in Attack on Sufi Shrine in Afghanistan

At least 10 people were killed when a gunman opened fire on Sufi worshippers during a weekly ritual at a shrine in a remote area of Nahrin district, the Afghan interior ministry confirmed. Abdul Matin Qani, a ministry spokesperson, said, “A man fired on Sufis participating in a weekly ritual at the shrine, killing ten […]

U.S. to Import Eggs from Turkey and South Korea

The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump’s administration, plans to import eggs from Turkey and South Korea to address rising egg prices. Officials have also confirmed ongoing discussions with several other countries to further stabilize the market. At a press briefing at the White House, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated, “In the short term, […]

Peaky Blinders’ Kate Phillips to Star in New UK Horror Film Black Noise

Kate Phillips, known for her role as Linda Shelby in Peaky Blinders, is set to lead the upcoming UK-based horror film Black Noise. Directed by Simon Blake, the movie is described as a “hallucinogenic horror” and will also feature Peaky Blinders and Game of Thrones star Aidan Gillen. Phillips plays Leda, a journalist infiltrating a […]

Wisconsin Election Running Smoothly, Says State Election Administrator

Wisconsin’s election day operations are progressing smoothly, according to Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the state Elections Commission. In a Tuesday morning news briefing, Wolfe reported that “everything is going well,” noting that all polling locations opened on time without any issues. “No issues have been reported to the state commission from any of the state’s […]

Terrorists, Not Students, Behind Vandalism at Bangabandhu’s House: Harsh Vardhan Shringla

Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has expressed concern over the recent vandalism at Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at 32 Dhanmondi in the capital. He stated that it was not students but terrorists who were behind the incident. He made these remarks on Saturday at an event titled […]

“Our Lives Turned to Dust”: Family Grieves After Deadly Floods Strike Spain

Valencia, Spain — Like many parents across Valencia that day, Victor Matías hurried to change his plans, anxious over the forecasted storm. Despite a torrential downpour, he left work early, picked up his young sons, Izan, 5, and Rubén, 3, from nursery, and began preparing their favorite dinner, croquetas, to enjoy while waiting for their […]

Elizabeth Olsen Joins New Thriller, Future in Marvel Still Unclear

Elizabeth Olsen, known for her roles in Love and Death and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has landed a new movie role. According to Deadline, she will star alongside Julia Roberts in a thriller titled Panic Carefully. The film is written and directed by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail. This project marks a reunion for Roberts […]