Japan Begins Disposal of Fukushima Nuclear Plant Wastewater into Pacific Ocean

READ, KOMPAS.com – Japan on Thursday (24/8/2023) began disposing of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (PLTN) into the Pacific Ocean.

In live video from the control room of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the operator of the facility, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) shows a staff turning on a seawater pump.

This controversial project is expected to last for decades.

Also read: Japan Decides to Begin Disposing of Fukushima NPP Waste on Thursday, August 24

“Seawater Pump A is activated,” the main operator said, quoted by the news agency Associated Press. He confirmed that the release of water was in progress.

TEPCO later confirmed that the seawater pump was activated at 13:03 local time, three minutes after the last step was started.

Japanese fishing groups oppose the release of waste from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, fearing it will further damage the reputation of their seafood.

Fishermen in China and South Korea have also expressed the same thing, so this issue has become a political and diplomatic issue.

However, the Government of Japan and TEPCO claim that this wastewater must be disposed of to allow space for the decommissioning of the nuclear power plant and prevent accidental leakage.

Quoted from Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency website (Bapeten) RI, decommissioning is an activity to permanently stop the operation of a nuclear reactor, including removing nuclear fuel from the nuclear reactor core, dismantling reactor components, decontamination, and final security.

According to the Japanese Government and TEPCO, treatment and dilution will make this wastewater safer than international standards, and the impact on the environment will be minimal.

However, some scientists argue that the long-term effects of low doses of radioactivity remaining in water deserve attention.

Also read: China Rejects Japan’s Agenda to Dispose of Fukushima Nuclear Waste, Calls the Ocean a Common Own

The disposal of this waste began more than 12 years after the massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

TEPCO Executive Junichi Matsumoto said that waste disposal on Thursday (24/8/2023) will start with water that contains the least radioactivity to ensure safety.

TEPCO plans to discharge 31,200 tons of treated wastewater by the end of March 2024, but this will only empty 10 tanks as contaminated wastewater continues to be generated at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Later the speed of disposal of Fukushima PLTN wastewater into the sea will be increased.

Also read: Today in History: The Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami Made Japan Weak

Get selected news updates and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.

2023-08-24 05:26:00
#Japan #Starts #Disposing #Processed #Waste #Fukushima #Nuclear #Power #Plant #Sea #Kompas.com