Japan to dump Fukushima water in Pacific
International outrage greets decision to release contaminated coolant used at wrecked nuclear plant
JAPAN’S government has infuriated China and its other neighbours by announcing that it is to release more than 1million tonnes of contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
The water is stored in vast tanks at the plant, which was destroyed by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, causing meltdowns of three of the six reactors.
Cold water was used to cool the reactor cores and pooled in the basement levels of the buildings, with levels further elevated by groundwater.
The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the plant, say they have considered a number of solutions to the problem and concluded that treating the water to remove the radioactive contaminants, diluting it and then releasing it into the ocean is the best option.
Critics, however, point out that the much-vaunted Advanced Liquid Processing System has failed to reduce contaminants such as strontium-90, cobalt, rhodium and iodine to “non-detect” levels, as was initially promised as a condition for releasing the water into the Pacific. They add that Japan has not permitted an independent investigation into the levels of radionuclides – atoms that emit radiation– in the water.
Neighbouring governments were quick to denounce Japan’s plans, although the operation is not expected to begin for another two years.
South Korea called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue and summoned the Japanese ambassador to receive a formal protest.
Parties across the political spectrum have condemned the decision, along with environmental groups, which described the plan as “nuclear terror”.
China said Japan had decided to release the water “without regard for domestic and foreign doubts and opposition”.
“This approach is extremely irresponsible and will seriously damage international public health and safety and the vital interests of the people of neighbouring countries,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Taiwan has also communicated its concerns to Tokyo and it is possible that one or more governments may take legal action against Japan.
There is also domestic opposition to the plan, with the head of the national federation of fisheries co-operatives declaring the decision to be “extremely regrettable” and “utterly unacceptable”.
Greenpeace has gathered more than 184,000 signatures to a petition calling on Japan to reconsider, pointing out that some of the radionuclides in the water have a lifespan of tens of thousands of years.
“The government has taken the wholly unjustified decision to deliberately contaminate the Pacific Ocean with radioactive waste,” said Kazue Suzuki, a campaigner with Greenpeace Japan. “It has discounted the radiation risks and turned its back on the clear evidence that sufficient storage capacity is available on the nuclear site as well as in surrounding districts.”