Japan could soon dump more than a million tons of purified water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. The competent supervisory authority has now given the green light for the controversial plan. Neighboring countries and environmental protection organizations have criticized the procedure for harming wildlife and native marine animals.
Since the tsunami-induced meltdown in 2011, approximately 1.29 million tons of purified water has accumulated at the facility. With capacities at the nuclear power plant nearly exhausted, the Japanese government plans to discharge the wastewater into the sea. Specifically, it should be pumped into the Pacific Ocean from the spring of 2023. This includes rainwater and groundwater from the radioactive site, as well as water that was needed to cool the installation after the nuclear accident. Most of the radioactivity has to be filtered out of the water with a system of pumps and filters. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dumping at sea is safe.
China: “Not a private matter”
The government ensures safety and the “reliability and transparency of the process”. It has already approved the plan and had it approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The project simply corresponds to the discharge of wastewater in other nuclear power plants. Japan’s neighboring countries and environmental protection organizations such as Greenpeace, on the other hand, have criticized possible damage to nature, animals and residents. The plan affects “the global marine environment and public health of the Pacific Rim and is therefore by no means a private matter for Japan,” said Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China’s foreign ministry. Japan will have to pay the price if it puts its own interests above international public interests.
The Japanese fishing industry, on the other hand, fears that confidence in domestic fish will decline. After the accident in Fukushima, it had to be carefully set up.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
