Japan to dump treated radioactive water from Fukushima into the Pacific, sparking complaints from the region

TOKYO.- The Japanese government announced today that it plans to discharge into the pacific ocean more than a million tonnes of radioactive water already treated of the nuclear power plant Fukushima despite opposition from neighboring countries, the fishing industry and environmental groups.

For seven years, they debated how to dispose of contaminated water stored in reservoirs at Fukushima Daiichi since an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 damaged its reactors and the cooling system started to leak. Authorities said they would work to ensure that the discharged water is harmless.

It was reported by the Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, in a meeting with members of the executive, including the Minister of Industry, Hiroshi Kajiyama, on the eve of the 10 years of the disaster. Suga argued that the decision is the “most realistic” and that it is “inevitable to achieve the recovery of Fukushima.”

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), The plant operator said the storage capacity of the tanks will peak in the fall of 2022.

Although they ensured that the radioactive elements can be reduced with filtration processes to permitted levels so that the release can be carried out, Tepco and those responsible the thyroid, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, cannot be removed from water because their separation is very complex.

The thyroid is considered to be mildly harmful, although it is dangerous to the human body if it is ingested or ends up in the body for other reasons. Harmfulness, however, will depend on how much and when it was consumed.

The filtering operations provide for the removal of radioisotopes and the dilution of the water to the point of reaching tritium levels below regulatory limits until it is pumped into the ocean, which Tepco says is expected to here two years and is needed to improve the surrounding environment. the plant for the benefit of the quality of life of the local inhabitants.

Argentinian Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was adopted in favor of the decision. He said the agency was willing to offer technical support to the Japanese government.

For their part, neighbors from Japan expressed dissatisfaction. Measurement “He is extremely irresponsible and will seriously damage health and public security in the world, as well as the vital interests of neighboring countries ”, declared the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs it is a statement.

For Beijing, Japan should not apply the measure “without authorization”, not only from the IAEA, but also from “various affected countries”.

South Korea joined the protest. South Korean Foreign Minister summoned Japanese Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi to make an official protest, after Minister of Government Policy Coordination Koo Yun Cheol said Seoul “opposes force.” .

South Korean civic and environmental groups have vowed to do all they can to prevent what they see as “nuclear terror”, as they believe the release of the water “will become an irreparable disaster for humans as well as for the marine ecosystem “.

Green peace Japan He said the country “completely ignores the human rights and interests of the people of Fukushima and in general of Japan and the part of Asia that faces the Pacific”.

United States He backed his ally in a statement saying Tokyo “has weighed options and effects, has been transparent in its decision and appears to have taken an approach consistent with internationally recognized nuclear safety standards.”

AFP, Reuters and ANSA agencies

THE NATION

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