Japan is set to commence the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean starting from Thursday.
Despite opposition from neighboring countries, the decision was endorsed by the UN’s nuclear watchdog a few weeks ago. Around 1.34 million tonnes of water, equivalent to 500 Olympic-size pools, have accumulated since the plant was devastated by the 2011 tsunami.
Over the span of 30 years, the water will be discharged after undergoing filtration and dilution. Pending suitable weather and sea conditions, the disposal is scheduled to begin on August 24th, as announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after a Cabinet meeting. This move is deemed necessary for the plant’s decommissioning process, given its location on the country’s east coast, approximately 220km northeast of Tokyo.
Japan has stored the contaminated water in tanks for over a decade, but storage space is now limited.
The release plan has sparked concern and protests in Asia and the Pacific region, with fears about its impact on livelihoods and the environment.
