International forum on decommissioning

April 10, 2016

Intl. forum discusses Fukushima decommissioning

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160410_22/

An international forum has begun discussing the decommissioning of nuclear reactors at the defunct Fukushima Daiichi plant.

The 2-day forum, the first of its kind, opened in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, on Sunday.

The meeting was organized by the government-backed Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation.

The participants include officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The mayor of the British Borough of Copeland, Mike Starkie, stressed the importance of information-sharing between plant operators and host communities.

A nuclear plant in his district in western Cumbria, England, has caused accidents twice, and released radioactive substances into the atmosphere.

The mayor said these accidents have had a major impact on the local farming and fishing industries, and farmers and fishermen have been affected by radiation-related rumors.

He said such circumstances provided opportunities for Britain's nuclear power industry and local communities to build a relationship and have frank dialogue.

Robots for decommissioning highly-contaminated nuclear plants were on display at the forum venue. Many participants asked questions about the robots' functions and capabilities.

Only 20 percent of those taking part in the forum are local residents.

The head of the corporation, Hajimu Yamana, told reporters that many local residents probably didn't know about the forum as it is being held for the first time.

He said the forum has 2 purposes: to promote technical debate among experts in Japan and other countries and to provide information for residents of Fukushima and the surrounding areas. He said the corporation wants to work out ways to fulfil both of these aims.

The forum will close on Monday.