Global Courant
TOKYO — The Japanese government plans to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as early as August after receiving a stamp of approval from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the Nikkei reported.
As a major milestone in the process of decommissioning the power plant destroyed by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Tuesday that a two-year review showed Japan’s plans to release water in complied with global safety standards.
Tokyo had said in January it planned to pump the water into the ocean “around spring to summer”, but has not specified a date pending official approval from the national nuclear power regulator, due this week. expected.
With the approval of the IAEA, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday that his country will strive to be accepted both domestically and internationally.
Local Japanese fishing unions have long opposed the plan, saying it would negate work to repair reputational damage after several countries banned some Japanese food products over fears of radiation.
Some neighboring countries have also expressed concern about the threat to the environment, with Beijing the biggest critic.
Japan says the water has been filtered to remove most of the radioactive elements, except for tritium, an isotope of hydrogen that is difficult to separate from water. The treated water will be diluted to well below internationally approved levels of tritium before being released into the Pacific Ocean. REUTERS
