JABAR EKSPRES – The Japanese government decided to start discharging treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima NPP into the sea on August 24, 2023.
Preparations for the disposal of the radioactive water are being carried out by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which manages the Fukushima Daiichi NPP.
“Japan will take all possible measures to ensure the safety of waste disposal into the sea even after the waste disposal begins, and will not dispose of any waste that adversely affects health or the environment,” the Japanese government said in a written statement from its embassy in Jakarta, Wednesday (8/23).
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The Japanese government pledged to continue to conduct three types of monitoring, namely monitoring of treated water in tanks, real-time monitoring, and monitoring of sea areas in layers with the involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In the event that the level of radioactivity exceeds the standard, the Japanese government will take appropriate measures, including not discharging or stopping the discharge.
The IAEA will also continue to be independently involved. Furthermore, the monitoring results of the Japanese government and TEPCO will be published both domestically and internationally.
“The Japanese government and TEPCO will continue to make every effort to ensure safe disposal, with the continued involvement of the IAEA, including its review,” the Japanese government said.
Regarding the safety of discharging wastewater into the sea, Japan argues that it has referred to the IAEA report released last July that the plan to discharge wastewater into the sea is in accordance with international safety standards, so the impact of radiation on humans and the environment is negligible.
The Japanese government emphasized that it will support the survival of local fishermen’s livelihoods, continue to undergo the IAEA review, and strengthen, expand monitoring and disseminate easy-to-understand information on measurement results.