The industry ministry and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed to cooperate on the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR).
Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa and IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi signed a memorandum to that effect at their meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, Japan will share its?safety expertise with countries considering SMR adoption and support their efforts to develop related infrastructure and foster necessary human resources.
SMRs are smaller reactors with simpler systems and enhanced passive safety features.
Akazawa showed plans to promote SMR deployment in Japan as well. Grossi said that the memorandum is important for the evolution of the nuclear industry.
On the same day, the visiting IAEA chief also met with Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara to sign a separate memorandum to strengthen cooperation on the reuse and disposal of soil from decontamination work linked to the March 2011 triple meltdown at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings¡¯ disaster-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan.
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