Palau as a member of PIF continues dialogue with Japan over the scheduled release of treated and diluted water from the crippled plant

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has called on Japan to raise the transparency of the decommissioning process at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Whipps made the statement on Tuesday in a meeting with Fukushima Governor Uchibori Masao after visiting the plant.

He also told the governor that he was pleased to have a chance to visit the plant, adding that it helped him understand that challenges remain.

Palau is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, which continues dialogue with the Japanese government over the scheduled release of treated and diluted water from the crippled plant.

Japan’s government says the water will be diluted to bring down its level of radioactive tritium before being released into the ocean.

At the plant, the president inspected a system for releasing the water into the ocean. The system’s test operation started on the previous day. He also received explanations from officials of the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company.

But Whipps did not comment on the treated water in his meeting with Uchibori.

Uchibori told the president that the prefecture will continue efforts to restore areas affected by the nuclear accident despite challenges involving the decommissioning process.

This story was originally published at NHK News on 14 June 2023, reposted via PACNEWS.