In Japan, regulators began the final inspection on Wednesday before treated radioactive wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant is discharged into the Pacific Ocean. That could start as early as next week.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) installed the last piece of equipment needed to discharge the water on Tuesday. It concerns the exit of an undersea tunnel that will dump the waste water into the sea a kilometer from the coast.
According to TEPCO, inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Authority will review treated water transfer equipment and safety systems during their three-day inspection. There is not yet an exact date for the start of the discharge, but a permit could probably be issued at the end of next week, it sounds.
Protest
The plan is met with strong protests from local fishermen’s organizations who are concerned about safety and reputational damage. The government and TEPCO promised in 2015 not to discharge the water without the consent of the fishing community, but according to many fishermen, the plan was pushed through anyway.
Neighboring countries South Korea, China and some Pacific island states also expressed security concerns.
diluted
Government officials and TEPCO say the wastewater, currently stored in about 1,000 tanks, must be removed to prevent accidental spills and make room for the plant to be dismantled. The treated, but still slightly radioactive, water will be diluted to levels that are safer than international standards and will be gradually released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to humans and marine life, authorities say.
Safe?
However, some scientists point out that the impact of long-term exposure to low doses of radionuclides is unknown and release should be delayed. Others say that the discharge is safe, but ask for more transparency, for example by having external scientists take samples and monitor the discharge.
Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to appear credible and ensure that its security measures meet international standards. Since the beginning of 2022, the IAEA has sent several missions to Japan and the final evaluation report is expected soon. However, the organization does not have the authority to stop the plans for the discharge.
IAE chief Rafael Grossi is expected to travel to Japan in early July to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visit the power plant.
A massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 destroyed the cooling systems at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, causing three reactors to melt and their cooling water to become contaminated and leak continuously. The water is collected, treated and stored in tanks that will reach their capacity in early 2024.
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