IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi meets Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss the growing role of nuclear energy in energy security and economic development (Photo: K. Laffan/IAEA).
During his trip, the Director General met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with whom he discussed the growing role of nuclear energy in energy security and economic development, Japan's interest in fusion, progress at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, and broader international developments.
Cooperation on Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactors
The IAEA and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to expand collaboration on nuclear energy development and capacity building, including on small modular reactors (SMRs).
The agreement, signed by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, aims to support countries in developing safe and secure nuclear power programmes.
The new MoC builds on long-standing cooperation between the IAEA and Japan and reflects a shared commitment to advancing nuclear safety and security while supporting the development of nuclear energy .
The partnership also reflects growing international interest in SMRs , which many countries are considering as part of their future energy strategies.
SMRs can provide flexible, low-carbon electricity generation and help complement renewable energy sources, supporting reliable and resilient energy systems. However, countries considering these technologies require access to information, technical expertise and capacity building to assess their potential and prepare for deployment.
The cooperation complements the IAEA's broader engagement with international financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank , the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development , the OPEC Fund and the World Bank Group , as global momentum for financing nuclear energy continues to grow.
Extension of Cooperation on ALPS-treated Water Monitoring
The Director General also signed an extension of cooperation with Japan on the IAEA's independent monitoring and assessment of ALPS-treated water discharges from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.
Together with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi he signed an agreement to ensure that the IAEA's monitoring work continues over the coming decades.
The extension reinforces the IAEA's role in providing independent, transparent and science-based monitoring of the discharges, helping to build confidence among the international community.
The discussions also covered issues, including developments in Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Seawater Sampling Near Fukushima
During his trip, the Director General also joined an ongoing IAEA effort to monitor marine radioactivity near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS).
As part of enhanced transparency and confidence-building measures, Mr Grossi took part in the additional measures sampling for the second time, joining scientists from the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, who are participating in sampling and analysis.
The samples will be analysed by the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco, and laboratories in Japan and the participating countries, including the Third Institute of Oceanography in China, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety in the Republic of Korea and the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland.
