20-8-2023 (TOKYO) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to embark on a brief visit to the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima nuclear plant on Sunday, August 20th. His visit aims to underscore the safety of the impending release of treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean—a contentious plan that his government is determined to implement, despite domestic and international protests.
This visit follows Kishida’s return from a summit with US and South Korean leaders at the American presidential retreat of Camp David. Before departing Washington, Kishida emphasized the need to make a decision regarding the release date for the treated water. The release date has remained uncertain due to the considerable controversy surrounding the plan.
The Japanese government introduced the release plan two years ago, sparking strong opposition from Japanese fishing organizations. These groups fear further damage to the reputation of their seafood industry as it struggles to recover from the Fukushima nuclear accident. Concerns have also been voiced by groups in South Korea and China, transforming the issue into a political and diplomatic challenge.
The Japanese government, in collaboration with the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), maintains that the removal of water is essential. It is needed to create space for the plant’s decommissioning and to prevent accidental leaks from the storage tanks, given that much of the water is still contaminated and requires further treatment.
Japan has secured support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enhance transparency and credibility and to ensure that TEPCO’s plan complies with international safety standards. The government has also intensified efforts to promote the safety of the plan, both domestically and through diplomatic channels.
In a final report in July, the IAEA concluded that if TEPCO strictly follows its plan, the impact on the environment and human health would be negligible. This encouraged Japan to proceed with the release.
While seeking understanding from the fishing community, Japan has also sought to explain the plan to South Korea to prevent it from becoming an obstacle in their efforts to strengthen their relationship. Japan, South Korea, and the US are working to strengthen their trilateral ties in response to growing threats from China and North Korea.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government recently expressed support for the Japanese plan, although he faces criticism domestically. During a joint news conference at Camp David, Yoon expressed support for the IAEA’s safety evaluation of the plan but emphasized the importance of transparent inspection by the international community.
Prime Minister Kishida noted that outreach efforts have made progress but did not specify a start date for the water release, which is widely anticipated to occur at the end of August. He emphasized that the decision would consider safety preparations and measures to mitigate potential damage to the fisheries’ reputation.
Kishida is expected to meet with representatives from fisheries groups before his ministers determine the release date at a meeting scheduled for next week, according to Japanese reports.
During his visit on Sunday, Kishida is slated to inspect wastewater filtering and dilution facilities and hold discussions with TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa and other senior officials.
In March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi plant’s cooling systems, leading to the meltdown of three reactors and contamination of their cooling water. This water has been collected, filtered, and stored in approximately 1,000 tanks, which are expected to reach their capacity in early 2024.
The water is undergoing treatment using an Advanced Liquid Processing System, which can reduce the levels of more than 60 selected radionuclides to government-set releasable levels. However, tritium remains in the water, which the government and TEPCO assert is safe for humans when consumed in small amounts.
While most scientists agree that the environmental impact of the treated wastewater would be minimal, some experts call for increased attention to the dozens of low-dose radionuclides that still persist in the water.
