TOKYO- Japan anticipates the imminent arrival of a final report from a United Nations watchdog, expected to endorse a long-term plan for the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima nuclear plant to discharge radioactive water into the ocean. This plan spans a period of 30 to 40 years.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), embarks on a four-day visit to Japan, during which he will confer with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and deliver the outcomes of a comprehensive two-year safety evaluation.
To determine the precise timing for the water release, Japan awaits the IAEA's concluding evaluation, alongside official approval from the national nuclear regulatory authority responsible for Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco). The regulatory body's final decision may emerge as early as this week.
The Japanese government's proposed scheme, originating in 2021, has encountered vehement opposition from various neighboring countries, most notably China. Labeling it as "irresponsible and unpopular" and a potential menace to food and ecological safety, Beijing continues to voice its concerns through its embassy in Japan.
On Tuesday, China reiterated its protest, emphasizing that the upcoming report from the IAEA cannot serve as a free pass for the water release, and urged for the suspension of the plan. Japan's foreign ministry has expressed its efforts to engage Chinese officials in multiple instances, aiming to elucidate the scientific basis behind Tokyo's decision. However, these attempts have gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, local fishing communities in Japan also harbor apprehensions about the potential negative impact on their reputation and livelihoods, leading to further economic losses.
In an effort to manage the aftermath of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that inflicted damage on the Fukushima plant, Japan has devised a plan to discharge 1.3 million tonnes of water used for cooling the fuel rods. Prior to the release, the water has undergone filtration to eliminate the majority of radioactive elements, with the exception of tritium, a hydrogen isotope that proves challenging to separate from water.
However, the treated water will be diluted to levels significantly below the internationally approved threshold for tritium before being released into the Pacific Ocean.
It is worth noting that tritium concentrations in the treated water exceed those found in wastewater released by nuclear power plants worldwide. Despite this, South Korean consumers have begun stockpiling sea salt in anticipation of the water release, while China's foreign ministry strongly criticized the plan on Monday, insisting that the IAEA should not endorse it.