The International Atomic Energy Agency has released a report saying the planned discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is “consistent with relevant international safety standards.”

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the plant operator, plan to begin releasing the water as soon as later this summer.

They should provide ample explanations and engage in extensive dialogue on the matter without making light of the concerns that still linger both at home and abroad.

Cooling water continues to be poured on the fuel that melted during the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

With groundwater and rainwater mixing into the coolant, about 90 tons of radioactive water is being generated at the site every day.

TEPCO officials have said the tainted water will reach the capacity of available storage tanks in the first half of next year. They have also said the number of storage tanks should be reduced in order to set aside enough land for work to decommission the hobbled reactors.

TEPCO therefore plans to have treated water, from which most of the radioactive substances has been removed, diluted with seawater and released into the ocean. The plan has been approved by the government’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The IAEA report pointed out the discharge of treated water “will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.” It also says the NRA’s assessment and regulation frameworks are appropriate and isolation valves are available for stopping the water discharge immediately in the event an abnormality is detected.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said during his recent visit to Japan that the report is scientific and neutral and contains all the elements necessary for Japan to make a decision.

He also said the IAEA was setting up an on-site office and will stay there to review the developments until the water discharge process is ended.

The report indicates the release of treated water likely meets scientific safety standards as long as it is implemented as planned.

Let us recall, however, that the government and TEPCO promised the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations eight years ago that no treated water would ever be discharged without the understanding of the parties concerned.

The fishermen remain opposed to the release for fear of the negative publicity effects it may have.

The government and TEPCO should continue providing careful explanations in the years to come to dispel misgivings both at home and abroad and reduce the risk of negative publicity.

In doing so, they should face up to the fact that the public lost confidence in the government’s nuclear power administration and in TEPCO for good reason.

They allowed this serious disaster to occur despite a safety myth they had spread. Scandals over nuclear power operations have continued to surface well into the post-disaster years.

The poor explanations provided by TEPCO have raised suspicions about the utility’s competence to operate nuclear reactors.

The government and TEPCO should do their utmost to ensure freedom of information and transparency to dispel any misgivings about the utility’s ability to steadily implement the water release procedures and its readiness to release, on its own initiative, inconvenient information in the event of abnormalities.

Grossi, for his part, also addressed concerns about the water discharge plan and said he believes that it is essential to “not only indicate from the podium that this is the truth and everybody should accept it, but to listen as well” to various views.

One-sided explanations will not suffice. There should also be dialogue.

There is also a need to address overseas audiences to seek their deeper understanding of the post-disaster recovery work and the rebuilding of Fukushima Prefecture.

The government and TEPCO should continue with their earnest efforts to gain their understanding without being satisfied with the seal of approval they have been granted by the IAEA.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 9