22-8-2023 (TOKYO) Japan’s government has approved the release of treated and diluted radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean, a move set to begin as early as Thursday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida provided the final authorization during a meeting of Cabinet ministers involved in the plan and instructed Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, the plant’s operator, to prepare for coastal release if weather and sea conditions permit.
This decision comes nearly 12 and a half years after the nuclear meltdowns in March 2011 triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Kishida emphasized that the release is vital for the ongoing decommissioning of the plant and the recovery of the Fukushima region.
He assured that the government has taken all necessary precautions to ensure safety, address concerns from the fishing industry, and provide transparent, scientifically backed explanations to both domestic and international audiences. Kishida pledged that these efforts would continue throughout the release and decommissioning processes.
Japanese fisheries groups have voiced strong opposition to the plan due to fears of further damage to the reputation of their seafood. Similar concerns have been raised by groups in China and South Korea, turning the release into a political and diplomatic issue.
The government and TEPCO maintain that the treatment and dilution of the wastewater will meet international safety standards, with minimal environmental impact. However, some scientists caution that the long-term effects of the low-dose radioactivity remaining in the water deserve attention.
