An International Atomic Energy Agency team completed a two-month review today of Japan’s plans and activities to decommission the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power station, highlighting considerable achievements over the past decade, but warning that significant challenges remain and further planning efforts are needed for the entire process, which could take up to 30 years.

The 12-member IAEA team said Japan had made significant progress since the 2011 accident in moving from an emergency to a stable situation, managing daily activities at the site, reducing risks to the workforce and the environment, and planning for decommissioning with a systematic industrial approach.