PM supports Japan’s nuclear disposal plan

PRIME Minister James Marape has supported Japan’s planned wastewater disposal into the Pacific Ocean provided it is done in a controlled manner that does not adversely affect marine life.
Marape said he affirmed Japan’s effort in maintaining international standards while treating the radioactive chemical wastewaters through a process called advanced liquid processing system (Alps) where the radioactive materials are removed to meet regulatory standards.
Marape said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been working closely with the Japanese government to review the safety of wastewater for release and PNG would support that as long as it complied with international standards and regulations.
“PNG is of the view that Japan with its high compliance to international standards and regulations is meeting the international requirements in managing nuclear waste,” he said.
“If the government of Japan is meeting all the requirements setup by IAEA, and if they are confident that these wastewaters would not impact marine life, then they should go on release these treated wastewaters.
“For us in the Pacific our position is the same as it always has been — a free nuclear waste Pacific,” Marape said.
Marape said that both former and current Japanese Prime Ministers, Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida, had assured him that Japan was doing everything to increase the safety of the wastewater and would not allow release until they confirmed that it was safe to release.
He said in light of the nuclear reactor meltdown at Fukushima in 2011 which was responsible for the death of over 19,000 people and rendered an entire township uninhabitable, it was best that the wastewater be released into the sea in a controlled manner.
Meanwhile, Japanese embassy deputy head of mission, Shinichi Maruo, told The National that Japan had already received clearance from IAEA but were waiting for Pacific Island Forum leaders to give their approval.