Key Facts
• August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced a roadmap for soil disposal.
• The roadmap will address Fukushima’s decontaminated soil disposal outside the prefecture.
• Approximately 14.1 million cubic meters of soil and waste are stored near Fukushima Daiichi.
• The law mandates final disposal outside Fukushima by March 2045.
• The government will specify conditions for selecting candidate sites.
• Hayashi visited Fukushima Daiichi for the first time since taking office.
• He urged Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to prioritize safety in decommissioning efforts.
• TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa pledged to balance decommissioning and regional recovery.
• Hayashi also inspected interim storage facilities for decontaminated soil.
• The roadmap will outline challenges to be addressed over the next five years.
Summary
The Japanese government, led by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, plans to finalize a roadmap for the disposal of Fukushima’s decontaminated soil by the end of August. The roadmap will include conditions for selecting candidate sites outside Fukushima, where approximately 14.1 million cubic meters of soil and waste are currently stored. The law requires final disposal outside the prefecture by March 2045. During his first visit to Fukushima Daiichi, Hayashi emphasized the importance of safe and steady decommissioning efforts, while TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa committed to balancing decommissioning with regional recovery. The roadmap will address challenges over the next five years, including the development of necessary facilities and site selection criteria.
