Japan has commenced the controlled release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. This action has led to China imposing a ban on all aquatic products imported from Japan in response.
The process of releasing seawater began shortly after 1pm local time, with Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the plant operator, confirming that the weather and sea conditions were favorable for the operation. A TEPCO official communicated the opening of valves near the seawater transport pumps via a video link from the site, broadcast to the company’s headquarters in Tokyo.
The treated water, which has been used to cool the reactors since the 2011 tsunami disaster, amounts to over one million metric tonnes and is stored in around 1,000 tanks across the site. The removal of this water is a significant step in decommissioning the highly hazardous facility. The entire discharge process is anticipated to span up to 40 years and has been marked by contentious debates.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a supporter of the discharge plan, will have monitors present during the process. Samples of water and fish will also be collected for analysis.
Japan maintains that all radioactive elements have been filtered out from the water except for tritium, an isotope of hydrogen that is challenging to eliminate from water. This type of isotope is also discharged at higher levels by operational nuclear power plants worldwide, including those in China and France.
Tepco is planning to execute four releases of treated water until March 2024, each time releasing 7,800 cubic meters of water. The current discharge, now underway, is projected to take approximately 17 days. The tritium concentration in the discharged water is expected to be around 190 becquerels per liter, falling below the World Health Organization’s drinking water limit of 10,000 becquerels per liter.
Despite Japan’s assurance of safety and the IAEA’s approval, the plan has faced persistent controversy. China, which has voiced formal opposition to the discharge, accused Japan of acting “extremely selfishly.” In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared a ban on all aquatic imports from Japan, expanding the existing ban that specifically targeted fisheries from the Fukushima and Tokyo regions.
South Korea has also expressed caution due to public concerns, although a government assessment concluded that the scientific and technical aspects of the release presented no issues. South Korea has prohibited the import of fish and food products from Fukushima and has stated that the ban will persist until public unease subsides.
Amidst these actions, protests have arisen in South Korea and international reactions have been mixed, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity of the situation.
