Japan asked the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday to conduct a safety review and announce its view to the world in the event Tokyo decides to dispose of treated radioactive water accumulating at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Japan is considering releasing the water used to cool reactors, which is stored at the Fukushima complex, into the sea as one option, but has yet to make a final decision amid opposition from the local fishing industry, which is concerned about the possible effect on marine products as well as neighboring countries.
In a videoconference, industry minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi that Japan wants the U.N. nuclear watchdog to conduct a scientific and objective review of the disposal method of the water and openly convey its view to the international community, Japanese officials said.