The International Atomic Energy Agency has launched an expert mission to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant on the Sea of Japan to assess updated anti-terrorism measures. This was reported by NHK, according to UNN.
Details
The operator TEPCO has asked the IAEA to assess the activities at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture from a third-party perspective.
The mission is expected to last until April 2.
Experts will inspect anti-terrorism facilities and conduct surveys.
TEPCO's appeal came after the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Japan effectively banned the plant's operation in 2021 due to a number of safety shortcomings. The ban was lifted in December last year.
It is noted that the restart of the NPP requires the consent of local authorities, and TEPCO hopes that the IAEA's findings will help convince local authorities of the safety of the facility and finally resolve the issue of restarting the plant.
The Ministry of Economy and Industry has asked the governor of Niigata to support the government's policy of restarting the plant.
The governor noted that there is growing concern in Niigata about how people will evacuate in the event of an accident. According to him, the prefecture is closely monitoring the government's actions.
Recall
In March 2024, the IAEA successfully conducted a rotation of expert monitoring missions at four Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including the Chornobyl NPP, to ensure their safety in the face of Russia's military aggression.