28-6-2023 (TOKYO) Japanese regulators have begun the final inspection before treated radioactive wastewater is released from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The inspection started on Wednesday, a day after the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) installed the last piece of equipment needed for the release – the outlet of the undersea tunnel dug to discharge the wastewater 1 kilometre offshore.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority inspectors are examining the equipment related to the treated water transfer and its safety systems as part of their three-day inspection through Friday. The permit for releasing the water could be issued about a week later, and TEPCO could start discharging the water soon after, although an exact date has not been decided.
The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing groups who are concerned about safety and reputational damage. The government and TEPCO promised not to release the water without consent from the fishing community, but many in the fishing industry say the plan was pushed regardless. Neighboring South Korea, China, and some Pacific Island nations have also raised safety concerns.
The treated but still slightly radioactive water is currently stored in about 1,000 tanks at the Fukushima plant. Government and utility officials say the wastewater must be removed to prevent any accidental leaks and to make room for the plant’s decommissioning. They say the water will be diluted to levels safer than international standards and gradually released into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life.
However, some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown, and the release should be delayed. Others say the release plan is safe but call for more transparency, including allowing outside scientists to join in sampling and monitoring the release.
To gain credibility and ensure that safety measures meet international standards, Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA has dispatched several missions to Japan since early 2022, and its final evaluation report is expected soon, though the organisation has no power to stop the plan. IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi is expected to visit Japan in early July to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visit the plant.
