Nuclear safety round the world

September 8, 2015

IAEA chief: Fukushima a lesson for others

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html

Sep. 8, 2015 - Updated 03:52 UTC+2

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says he hopes its report on the Fukushima Daiichi accident will provide lessons on improving nuclear safety around the world.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano was speaking at a meeting of the board of governors on Monday in Vienna.

Amano cited the agency's final report released on August 31st, which looked into the causes and impact of the accident.

He described the report as a "major undertaking" with contributions from experts from many countries and international organizations. He said it was drawn up to serve as a solid knowledge base for the future.

He later told reporters he hopes that every country will make full use of the report in their efforts to improve nuclear safety.

The report says Japan was not sufficiently prepared for a severe nuclear accident due to an assumption that nuclear plants were safe.

The ambassador for the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, Mitsuru Kitano, told the meeting Japan is taking the criticism to heart.

Kitano said that based on lessons from the accident, Japan has introduced various measures and wants to contribute to improving nuclear safety around the world.