Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will tour Fukushima’s radioactive soil storage sites this week, spotlighting Japan’s colossal cleanup challenge 13 years after the nuclear disaster. Over 13 million cubic meters of contaminated soil—equivalent to filling Tokyo Dome 10 times—remain stored while authorities weigh disposal plans.
The Scale of the Challenge
Japan aims to recycle 75% of the soil, focusing on material with low radiation levels, for infrastructure projects like road embankments. The remaining 25%, deemed unsafe, must be relocated outside Fukushima by 2045. Local leaders urge faster decision-making as the government plans to finalize disposal sites this year.
IAEA’s Role
Grossi’s visit follows a September IAEA report endorsing Japan’s approach as compliant with global safety standards. The agency continues to monitor efforts to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi plant, where reactors melted down after a 2011 tsunami.
Why It Matters
This cleanup represents one of history’s most complex environmental recoveries, balancing public health, technological innovation, and international oversight. Success could set precedents for managing nuclear disasters globally.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
