TOKYO—Japan said on Tuesday that it will begin releasing more than 1 million metric tons of cleaned radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea on August 24, following a plan severely opposed by China.
The idea, which was authorized by the Japanese government two years ago as critical to decommissioning the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) plant, has also attracted opposition from local fishing organizations concerned about reputational harm.
“I expect the water release to start on August 24, weather conditions permitting,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
The statement comes a day after the government stated it had gained "a degree of understanding" from the fishing sector over the discharge of the water into the Pacific Ocean, despite fishing organizations expressing concern that the reputational harm would wreck their livelihood.
Tepco said the water will be released in lesser amounts and with more inspections at first, with the first flow totaling 7,800 cubic meters over around 17 days beginning Thursday.
According to Tepco, the water will have roughly 190 becquerels of tritium per litre, which is less than the World Health Organization drinking water standard of 10,000 becquerels per litre. A becquerel is a radioactivity unit.
Japan has declared the water discharge to be safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations (U.N. The nuclear watchdog approved the proposal in July, stating that it matched international standards and that the impact on people and the environment would be "negligible."
A study done over the weekend by Japanese broadcaster FNN found that 56 percent supported the distribution, while 37 percent opposed it.
“The IAEA and many other countries have said it’s safe, so I believe it is. But fishermen are facing so many problems so the Japanese government needs to do something to convince them,” said 77-year-old NGO worker Hiroko Hashimoto.
Despite guarantees, some neighboring nations have raised reservations about the plan's safety, with Beijing being the most vocal opponent.
China is highly worried by the decision, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Wang Wenbin, and has filed an official complaint.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee termed the discharge "irresponsible" and said that the city will "immediately activate" import limits on Japanese seafood from areas including the capital Tokyo and Fukushima beginning Thursday.
The prohibition, which will be applied in Macau as well, will apply to live, frozen, refrigerated, and dried seafood, as well as sea salt and seaweed.
South Korea stated in a statement issued Tuesday that it has no objections to the plan's scientific or technological features, but does not necessarily agree with or support it.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has had to find a balance in order to improve relations with Japan while also risking consumer reaction at home.
Despite the worldwide concern, Mr. Kishida said he felt a "accurate understanding" of the situation was growing.
Japan claims that most radioactive materials will be removed from the water, with the exception of tritium, a hydrogen isotope that must be diluted since it is difficult to filter.
“Nuclear power plants worldwide have routinely discharged water containing tritium for over 60 years without harm to people or the environment, most at higher levels than the 22 TBq per year planned for Fukushima,” Tony Irwin, an honorary associate professor at the Australian National University, said in a note.
According to a Japanese official, the first test findings of the saltwater following the release might be available as early as September. Japan will also test fish in the waterways surrounding the facility and publish the results on the agricultural ministry's website.
