The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was scheduled to visit Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday. This visit comes after the IAEA confirmed the safety of a controversial plan to release treated radioactive water into the sea.

Before arriving at the Fukushima plant, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA chief, participated in a meeting with government officials, utility representatives, local mayors, and fishing association leaders. Grossi emphasized the agency's ongoing presence during the water discharge process to ensure safety and address the concerns of residents.

Grossi stated, "What is happening is not something exceptional, some strange plan that has been devised only to be applied here, and sold to you. This is, as certified by the IAEA, the general practice that is agreed by and observed in many, many places all over the world."

To address doubts and concerns, Grossi acknowledged the IAEA's commitment to remain involved for decades to come, monitoring and validating the plan's implementation. The IAEA's final report, released on Tuesday, concluded that the proposed wastewater release, which would be significantly diluted but still contain some radioactivity, meets international standards with negligible environmental and health impacts.

However, local fishing organizations have rejected the plan, fearing potential damage to their reputation even if their catch remains uncontaminated. Additionally, South Korea, China, and some Pacific Island nations oppose the plan due to safety concerns and political reasons.

During the meeting, the chief of Fukushima's fisheries association, Tetsu Nozaki, urged government officials to consider their opposition to the treated water discharge plan. Iwaki Mayor Hiroyuki Uchida requested prioritizing thorough explanations over adhering to a specific timeline for the release.

Grossi emphasized the IAEA's commitment to transparency and open dialogue, stating that the report was a comprehensive and scientifically sound evaluation. South Korean officials expressed skepticism about the release, highlighting their stringent screening of imported seafood from Japan and maintaining an import ban on seafood from the Fukushima region.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, resulting in the meltdown of three reactors and continuous leakage of contaminated cooling water. The water has been collected, treated, and stored in approximately 1,000 tanks, which are expected to reach capacity in early 2024.

The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the plant operator, argue that the water must be removed to prevent accidental leaks and create space for decommissioning the plant. Japanese regulators recently completed their final safety inspection, and TEPCO is expected to receive the permit for the release soon. The gradual discharge of water through an undersea tunnel to a location 1 kilometer offshore in the Pacific Ocean could commence at any time, although the start date remains uncertain due to protests domestically and internationally.

China reiterated its objections to the release, criticizing the IAEA report for not considering all views and accusing Japan of treating the Pacific Ocean as a dumping ground. Japan was urged to establish a long-term international monitoring mechanism with the involvement of neighboring countries.

Grossi highlighted that treating, diluting, and gradually releasing wastewater is a proven method employed by several countries, including China, South Korea, the United States, and France, for disposing of water containing certain radionuclides from nuclear plants. The Fukushima wastewater, which contains cesium and other radionuclides, will undergo further filtration to meet international standards for all radionuclides except tritium, which cannot be separated from water. Before release, it will be diluted 100 times with seawater.

While some scientists advocate for a delay in the release due to uncertainties surrounding the long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides, others assert the safety of the plan but call for enhanced transparency in sampling and monitoring.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida assured that Japan would provide detailed explanations based on scientific evidence with transparency both domestically and internationally. Grossi is expected to visit South Korea, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands following his trip to Japan to address concerns in those regions.