MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed its readiness to use Russian laboratories in 2024 to analyze samples after the discharge of spent water from the Fukushima-1 Nuclear Power Plant, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"Russia has submitted to the agency’s Secretariat a list of laboratories that can be involved in the analysis of samples taken by the agency in the area of the discharge [of water]. The IAEA has confirmed its readiness to involve Russian laboratories for these purposes from 2024," Zakharova said.

Nuclear power plant accident

In March 2011, a tsunami knocked the power and cooling units of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the meltdown of nuclear fuel in three reactors, the destruction of their vessels, explosions and the release of large amounts of radioactive materials. To date, the plant site and surrounding areas have been virtually cleaned up. However, water is constantly being poured into the destroyed reactors to cool the nuclear fuel fragments, which flow out through gaps with high radioactive contamination.

By now, more than 1.34 million tons of water have accumulated on the site of the NPP. The Japanese government has decided to gradually discharge the purified water into the sea. This process will take 30-40 years. The process is approved by the IAEA, but it causes dissatisfaction of a number of countries, first of all China.

The discharged water is being treated via the ALPS system and diluted with seawater, but still contains tritium that cannot be removed. The maximum allowable concentration of tritium in the water is 1,500 becquerels per liter. Measurements carried out by the Japanese authorities and the IAEA confirm compliance with the specified parameters.