Hitachi-Omiya targeted for nuclear waste disposal literature survey

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is finalizing plans to request a literature survey in Hitachi-Omiya, Ibaraki Prefecture, to identify a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. According to the government’s scientific characteristic map, the entire area of Hitachi-Omiya is classified as a region with a relatively high possibility of possessing favorable characteristics for such a site.

If the municipality accepts the literature survey, it could receive subsidies of up to 2 billion yen. This move follows a similar request made to Minamitorishima in the Ogasawara Village, Tokyo. Including previous sites in Hokkaido and Kyushu, this would mark the fifth instance of such a survey being initiated.

Local residents in Hitachi-Omiya have expressed concerns, emphasizing that safety and security must be guaranteed before any agreement is reached, noting that the issue is not merely about financial compensation. The city currently faces challenges including a declining population and the need for industrial promotion.