Tepco, Sellafield extend cooperation agreement

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) and Sellafield Ltd - a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - signed the original agreement in September 2014. The agreement enables sharing of operational and technical knowledge to support decommissioning progress at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi site and the UK's Sellafield site.

The areas of expertise on which information is shared includes site operation and management, environmental monitoring, radiation protection, project management, design engineering, stakeholder communications and engagement, and procurement strategies.

"After a positive first 10 years of collaboration, the companies have pledged to continue their relationship for up to a further decade," Sellafield Ltd said.

Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer at Tepco's damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, formally signed the extension during a visit to Sellafield on 11 September.

"Very few places in the world have decommissioning challenges akin to those at Sellafield," Sellafield Ltd CEO Euan Hutton said. "By working together with Tepco, we can unlock new technology and techniques. Over the years we have had reciprocal visits and workshops, and we've welcomed secondees from Tepco to the Sellafield site."

Ono added: "The cooperation to date has been a major force in advancing our decommissioning work. By incorporating international experience and technology, we have achieved results that contribute to the creation of a more reliable and safe decommissioning process. Furthermore, by sharing Japan's efforts and achievements, we have built a relationship of mutual learning.

"The extension of this agreement is a new departure point for further deepening and developing this relationship of mutual benefit. Through continued cooperation between Tepco and Sellafield, we shall further promote international initiatives and steadily move forward with the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station."