Japan announced that it will discharge contaminated and treated water from Fukushima into the sea

Japan on Tuesday formalized its decision to discharge contaminated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea after treating it to remove most of the radioactive elements., a process that should begin in 2023.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called the measure “inevitable” for the dismantling of the plant and stressed that it was the “most realistic” option among others that are technically available. more complex and less viable in order to solve the problem of storage of these waters.

While, neighboring countries such as China and South Korea and environmental associations such as Greenpeace have expressed concern over the environmental implications of the spill and called on Tokyo to reconsider its decision, which does not have the approval of the local authorities or the fishermen of Fukushima.

The controversial measure, over which Japan has been deliberating for years, is primarily aimed at solving the problem of the accumulation of radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi facilities, one of the most pressing issues in the complex process of decommissioning the factory damaged as a result. of the natural disaster of March 11, 2011.

More than 1.25 million tonnes of treated water are currently stored in the immediate vicinity of the plant and the storage capacity is expected to be exhausted in the fall of next year., depending on the current rate at which this liquid is being generated.

This water, stored in huge reservoirs, comes from cooling damaged reactor cores, as well as underground aquifers, and rain that seeps out and eventually becomes contaminated with radioactive isotopes.

The liquid is treated with a treatment system that removes most of the radioactive material considered hazardous, with the exception of tritium, an isotope found in nature., although in low concentration.

Japanese authorities argue that the spill will not pose any risk to human health as the levels of tritium released into the sea will be below national health standards (when mixed with seawater) and argue that it is This is a common practice in the industry. from other countries.

Prime Minister Suga said his government would “do its best” to allay concerns over the spill and said the plan “has been studied by experts for over 6 years” and has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Several anti-nuclear organizations have called for protests for today outside the prime minister’s office in Tokyo to protest the move, while fishermen in Fukushima expressed anger and frustration over fears that years of work to restore their reputation is not ruined. activity.

“If (this water) is dumped into the sea, more young people will see no future in the industry and fishing in Fukushima will decline.”Katsuo Watanabe, an 82-year-old fisherman from Iwaki, told Kyodo News Agency.

Neighboring countries and environmental organizations were also quick to respond to Japan’s decision regarding the Fukushima spill.

“The ocean is a shared property of humanity. The discharge of nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima power plant is not only a national problem (Japan)The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, which promised to monitor the situation and reserve “the right to make other responses.”

South Korea, for its part, regretted the decision and urged Japan to be transparent about water treatment before rejecting it “to certify the safety of our people and prevent damage to the marine environment,” said Koo Yoon-cheol, director of the coordination office, during a press conference. of the South Korean executive.

These countries are two of fifteen that continue to impose import restrictions on products made in Fukushima today following the 2011 crash.

Environmental organization Greenpeace has collected more than 183,000 signatures in Japan and South Korea against the measure, and accused the Japanese government of turning public consultations and negotiations with local fishermen “into a formality.”

“The decision to discharge the contaminated water into the ocean will pose great problems for the future “, given that some of the radioactive isotopes it contains” have a useful lifespan of thousands and tens of thousands of years. .“The organization said in a statement.

Greenpeace called the spill “unsustainable” and urged Japan to continue stockpiling it while studying the development of new technologies that allow total radiation elimination.

With information from EFE

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