Japan eyes tiny Pacific coral island for nuclear waste storage

Japan is considering Minamitorishima, a tiny, remote coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean about 1,200 miles southeast of Tokyo, as a potential site for permanent storage of high-level nuclear waste. The island, which is uninhabited except for some government and military personnel, offers practical advantages such as isolation and existing infrastructure including a runway and port. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) formally requested an evaluation of the atoll’s suitability in March 2026, aiming for a repository capable of safely containing radioactive material for up to 100,000 years, inspired by Finland’s successful Onkalo deep geological repository. However, the plan has raised significant safety and environmental concerns. Critics, including experts and environmental groups, highlight the lack of detailed geological studies on Minamitorishima and its surrounding seabed, which contrasts with extensively researched mainland sites. The island’s porous limestone and volcanic foundation may pose risks of leakage, threatening marine ecosystems.