On the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference, the Government of Japan organized a meeting yesterday to overview the decommissioning activities at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors, and the activities of remediating and rehabilitating decontaminated areas.

The presentations and video material shown clearly demonstrated comprehensive progress in all segments. The removal of spent nuclear fuel from all reactor pools is underway, while the other activities on the removal of melted nuclear fuel from the reactors are being prepared. There are also apparent steps forward in the treatment and storage of liquid and solid radioactive waste, as well as the activity of keeping groundwater from the soil beneath the nuclear reactors and its subsequent leakage into the ocean. The working conditions have been significantly improved, while the area requiring the use of protective gear has been drastically decreased.

Former residents who were evacuated form the area are slowly returning to places struck by the accident. Schools, hospitals, shopping centers and sport facilities and grounds have been reestablished and reopened in the safe areas.

It is obvious that the Government of Japan and the plant operator – Tokyo Electric Power Co., or TEPCO are making enormous efforts and investing significant finance in order to remediate the consequences of one of the biggest nuclear disasters caused by a devastating earthquake.