Japan began releasing a third batch of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant on Thursday, the plant＊s operator said, as tensions persist among neighboring countries, such as China and Russia, that are opposed to the move.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) started the process at around 10:20 a.m.﹛
Tepco said that after finishing inspections following its second release, which concluded on Oct. 23, it had found no reason to alter procedures.
The treated water is stored in over 1,000 tanks within the plant＊s premises. The water has been safely diluted and discharged without any issues so far.
The amount of water to be released in the latest round will be similar to the first and second, in which 7,810 tons of water was discharged. The release is set to be performed over a 17-day period.
Recent plant inspections have confirmed tritium levels are significantly below the 1,500 becquerels per liter threshold deemed to be safe. This safety claim has been supported by the United Nations＊ atomic agency.
The release of the treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean is expected to take three decades to complete and is part of a major step in the process of decommissioning the plant.
The International Atomic Energy Agency wrapped up its safety review on Friday, saying the treated water being released from the Fukushima plant was ※progressing as planned and without any technical concerns.§ The agency plans to compile a report on the latest four day mission by the end of the fiscal year.
Seven IAEA officials and experts from nine out of eleven task force member countries, including China and Russia, conducted an on-site review, inspecting the nuclear complex＊s water treatment and discharge facilities as well as collecting samples of water, sediment and marine creatures.
Despite seawater tests near Fukushima Prefecture confirming that tritium, the remaining radioactive material, are under detectable levels, China, Hong Kong, and other neighboring countries continue to express strong opposition.
In the aftermath of the initial release, in August, China and Hong Kong imposed a ban on all Japanese seafood imports, citing safety concerns, with Russia following suit as a ※precautionary measure§ 〞 a move to which Tokyo has strongly objected.
The Foreign Ministry has issued a statement strongly urging Russia to lift the restriction and referring to the decision as ※extremely regretful§ due to its lack of scientific basis.
Russia has said its measures will stay in force until it can confirm that the seafood meets its safety requirements as well as those of the Eurasian Economic Union, a grouping of post-Soviet states.
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