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The Japanese government has announced that it will postpone the decision to release contaminated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant scheduled for the 27th.
Large water tanks containing contaminated water lead to the site of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. [연합뉴스]
Hiroshi Kajiyama, head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said: “There is no decision on the 27th” regarding the timing of the decision on how to treat contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear power plant at a press conference held after a countermeasures meeting of the relevant ministries on the 23rd. In fact, the decision to dump contaminated water into the sea has been postponed.
Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama explained the reason, saying: “It is not a step to convey a specific moment (decision).” However, local media reports that the Japanese government was aware of the internal backlash and concerns about releasing the ocean.
According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government received public opinion on the treatment of contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from April to July this year. Out of a total of 4,011 comments received, 2,700 were “concerned about security.” 1,400 opinions were also received stating that “there was no national consensus”. Japanese fisheries organizations also expressed their position of “absolute opposition”, saying that the discharge of polluted water into the ocean did not win the understanding of fishermen and the public.
Some observers have observed that the amount of contaminated water generated this year has decreased compared to the previous year, leaving more time. Initially, Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, predicted that the contaminated water storage tank would be full by the summer of 2022, based on an average daily generation of contaminated water of 160 to 170 tons. . Considering the need for two years of preparation time for the discharge of polluted water into the ocean, the Japanese government argued that the treatment method should be decided as soon as possible.
However, contrary to Tokyo Electric Power’s expectations, the amount of polluted water generated per day has decreased to around 140 tons this year. Naturally, the time when the storage tank is filled has also been delayed, and there is expected to be room until 2023.
Furthermore, the Asahi Shimbun reported that Tokyo Electric Power is considering removing 97 outdated tanks at the tank site and expanding the contaminated water storage tank. He added that if an additional storage tank is installed, it can store about two years of contaminated water.
However, if the Japanese government finalizes the ocean discharge policy within the next month as scheduled, Tokyo Electric Power will discharge the polluted water into the Pacific Ocean two years later.
Japan emphasizes that this contaminated water is harmless to humans and the environment, and says that it is the “treatment water” that has reduced the level of contamination. However, Korea cannot rule out the possibility of contaminated water being discharged without proper treatment. It is also noted that the danger of tritium, called tritium, has been overlooked.
Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]
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