Monday 16 June 2014

Japan and US to step up co-operation on Fukushima clean-up

The US and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to step up efforts on decommissioning the Fukushima nuclear power plant and cleaning up leaked radioactive materials.

Officials from the two nations met at the Bilateral Commission on Civil Nuclear Co-operation held in Tokyo, where the US pledged to provide a technical expert to participate in Japan’s review of its Request for Proposals regarding contaminated water treatment.

It also offered Japan the option for US senior executives to consult with them and provide their experience in environmental clean-up activities and technologies.

The Fukushima plant was crippled by an earthquake and tsunami disaster three years ago.

A statement from the US Energy Department said: “On emergency response, the United States and Japan continue to share actions and best practices in ensuring effective emergency response, data monitoring and information systems and managing complex disasters… They exchanged invitations to observe exercises related to nuclear emergency management.”

The bilateral commission on nuclear cooperation was launched at the Japan-US summit held in Washington in April 2012.