29.05.2023
The Japanese government this summer launched a plan to dump sewage from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, but local fishermen and neighboring countries have so far strongly opposed it. Japan hopes that the International Atomic Energy Agency can provide assistance to ensure that the discharge process meets safety standards.
(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) A working team dispatched by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the United Nations arrived in Tokyo on Monday (May 29). It is expected that Japan will conduct a final review before starting to discharge diluted nuclear sewage. According to a statement issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency on May 26, experts from the working group will review the waste water treatment plan of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in accordance with international safety standards to avoid the threat of harmful nuclear radiation to humans and the environment.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said the team included experts from 11 countries. During the five-day visit, meet with top officials from the government and nuclear power plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, and visit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to observe preparations for the Multi-Nuclide Removal Plant (ALPS).
will take decades to complete
Japan announced the wastewater discharge plan in April 2021, stating that after further treating and diluting the nuclear-contaminated wastewater to a “safe level”, it will gradually release the wastewater into the ocean. The plan will be approved by the Japan Atomic Energy Regulatory Commission in July 2022.
Japanese officials say the water will be treated to a level where it can be legally released and further diluted with large volumes of seawater. They added that the water would be gradually released through a subsea pipeline over decades, making it harmless to humans and marine life.
The IAEA team also visited Japan last February to discuss wastewater issues with Japanese officials (file photo)
In 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency has sent personnel to Japan several times to investigate. According to the statement of the agency, five reports related to the waste water discharge plan have been released so far, including two “technical” and “regulatory” reports. aspects of security review work.
Next, Japan is expected to begin discharging treated nuclear wastewater into the sea within months after Japan’s nuclear regulator conducts safety inspections of newly built drainage facilities and the International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to issue a final report by the end of June this year.
Opposition
However, the plan has been strongly opposed by Fukushima fishermen, who fear potential health hazards and loss of livelihoods. Nearby countries such as South Korea, China, and Pacific island countries have all raised doubts about the possible health effects of nuclear wastewater.
As a result, Japanese authorities sought the help of the IAEA to ensure that its discharge process complied with international safety standards, hoping to gain understanding from other countries. The Japanese government has stepped up campaigns in Japanese media and at food shows to promote the safety of seafood from Fukushima, while providing regular briefings to foreign governments, including South Korea and members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
An inspector is testing the tritium content of Fukushima wastewater samples
At the same time, the Chinese representative stated at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 27 that he firmly opposed Japan’s unilateral decision to discharge Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the ocean. The Chinese representative said that the coast of Fukushima has the strongest ocean currents in the world, and 10 years after the nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the sea, the relevant radionuclides will spread to the seas of the world. This move will transfer the risk to all mankind. The Chinese representative also emphasized that before reaching an agreement with all parties, the Japanese side shall not initiate the discharge of nuclear contaminated water without authorization.
Wastewater from 500 Olympic swimming pools
Fukushima Daiichi’s tanks currently store nearly 1.3 million tons of contaminated water that was used to cool the reactor core after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The total amount is enough to fill about 500 Olympic-standard swimming pools, and the annual maintenance cost is about 100 billion yen. Moreover, the current storage space is running out. Japanese officials say it is necessary to remove the water currently stored in the tanks to prevent possible accidental leaks in the event of another disaster in the future, while also making room for the plant’s decommissioning.
(comprehensive report)
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