13 Jul 2023

Cook Islands PM: Treated nuclear wastewater plan 'doesn't breach treaty'

From , 6:02 am on 13 July 2023
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown

Mark Brown has been confirmed as the Cook Islands prime minister. Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Some Pacific leaders are still not convinced that the upcoming release of over one-million-tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan will be safe despite meeting with the head of the UN Nuclear Agency.

The Agencies Director General has met with Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown ahead of Japan announcing a start date for the project. 

Prime Minister Brown told RNZ Pacific's Lydia Lewis a large number of Pacific leaders were able to attend the meeting virtually and put their questions to Rafael Grossi who is in Rarotonga to present the IAEA's latest report: