Tokyo Electric Power Company TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, announced the completion of the first stage of the release of treated radioactive water into the sea
This was reported by NHK.
From August 24 to September 10, about 460 tons of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP diluted with seawater was discharged into the ocean every day. In total, 7,800 tons of water were released, which is equal to 10 reservoirs at the NPP site.
Samples of seawater reportedly showed that the level of tritium remaining in the water did not exceed 10 becquerels per liter, far below the permissible limit of 700 becquerels per liter.
TEPCO is going to check its treatment and discharge systems to prepare for the second phase. The company plans to carry out four stages by March 2024 and release 31.2 thousand vessels into the ocean. tons of water, which is equal to about 40 reservoirs.
What preceded it
At the Fukushima NPP, water used to cool nuclear reactors is treated in stages using an advanced treatment system that removes almost all radioactive substances except tritium. This water is collected in huge tanks that occupy a large area of the power plant site.
TEPCO has repeatedly emphasized that decommissioning of the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi cannot be completed without the disposal of the treated water. For several years, the company has been developing and building a special treatment system that will allow almost complete removal of radioactive elements from water.
On July 8, it became known that Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority granted TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, official permission to start discharging treated radioactive water into the open sea.
On August 7, it was reported that Japan is considering starting to discharge treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea between late August and early September, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida returns from a trilateral summit with the United States and South Korea.
On August 22, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan would begin discharging treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea on Thursday, August 24, weather permitting, despite concerns from local fishermen and staunch opposition from China.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Party of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, called Japan’s decision to discharge treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant an act of terror.
On August 24, despite the concerns of citizens and some neighboring countries about the environmental consequences, Japan began releasing radiation-treated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.
On August 26, it was reported that the United States reaffirmed its support for the process of discharging treated radioactive water from the destroyed Japanese nuclear power plant in Fukushima, calling it safe and transparent.
As of August 31, more than 2,900 tons of purified water was released into the ocean from the damaged Japanese Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. There were no problems with the drain or other equipment.
On September 4, local authorities in Tokyo began responding with recorded messages to aggressive calls from China protesting the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
