The Fukushima nuclear plant begins releasing radioactive wastewater into the sea
economictimes.indiatimes.comFukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has begun releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean — a controversial step, but a milestone for Japan's battle with the growing radioactive water stockpile.
In a live video from a control room at the plant Thursday, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings showed a staff member turn on a seawater pump, marking the beginning of the controversial project that is expected to last for decades.
«Seawater Pump A activated,» the main operator said, confirming the release was underway. TEPCO later confirmed that the seawater pump was activated at 1:03 p.m.
(0403 GMT), three minutes after the final step began.
Japanese fisher groups have opposed the plan for fear it will further damage to the reputation of their seafood. Groups in China and South Korea have also raised concern, making it a political and diplomatic issue.
But the Japanese government and TEPCO say the water must be released to make room for the plant's decommissioning and to prevent accidental leaks.
They say the treatment and dilution will make the wastewater safer than international standards and its environmental impact will be negligibly small. But some scientists say long-term impact of the low-dose radioactivity that remains in the water needs attention.
The water release begins more than 12 years after the March 2011 nuclear meltdowns, caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami.
