Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

Q&As

• The leakage of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

REPORTER: More than 300 tons of highly contaminated water has leaked from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, revealing once again the challenges we face in post-accident management. Could you share with us how the Government is planning to address this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As you have just mentioned, on August 19, a puddle of contaminated water was discovered at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. After checking tank water levels and observing their lowered state, it was calculated that approximately 300 cubic meters of water had leaked. I have been informed that as of now there have not been any significant changes to the analysis results of the seawater closest to the general discharge outlet or changes in data at monitoring posts near the power station.

In response, the Nuclear Regulation Authority has given instructions to identify the scope of the contamination, determine the origin of the leak as soon as possible, strengthen the monitoring of areas near the tanks, recover contaminated soil, and investigate the state of the leak into the ocean. Furthermore, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy has instructed that all tanks of the same type as the one in which the leak occurred are to be inspected. An occurrence of a leakage such as this is extremely regrettable and the whole Government will make every effort to stop the leak as soon as possible.

REPORTER: I understand that volume of radioactive material leaked will add up to a sizable amount. Consequently the severity level on the international scale will be upgraded by two levels, from level 1 to level 3. I understand that this will be determined by the Nuclear Regulation Authority. Could you share with us the Government's thoughts on this development?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, I have been informed that today's meeting of the Nuclear Regulation Authority raised some concerns that it may not be appropriate to use the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) in an unmodified form for a facility that was built as a stopgap following the nuclear accident when the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station had not been completely contained. I have been informed that in light of this it has been proposed that it is first necessary to confirm the application of INES with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Therefore I understand that this incident will be assessed as appropriate after confirming with the IAEA.

(Abridged)