Japan to Put Nuclear Wastewater at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

According to foreign media reports, the Japanese government said on Wednesday that it is considering disposing 3,000 tons of low-level nuclear sewage collected at the second nuclear power plant in Fukushima, and said that it will reduce the amount of radiation through clean water before discharge. The fishing port in the disaster-stricken area is preparing to go fishing. The discharge of nuclear sewage will add new concerns to the fishermen.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan’s Atomic Energy Security Institute said on Wednesday that it intends to discharge about 3,000 tons of nuclear waste that has accumulated in the turbine room of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP. Since the sewage contains seawater, long-term accumulation may corrode the equipment.

The Fukushima Second Nuclear Power Plant has four reactors and has stopped at a low temperature during the March earthquake.

According to reports by the Yomiuri Shimbun, the accumulated radioactive waste contained cobalt 60 and cesium 137, 134, etc. The total amount of radioactive material is about 3 billion becquerels, and the pollution level exceeds the standard by 10 to 30 times. The Japanese government intends to purify wastewater before discharge, and to minimize nuclear pollution.

After the earthquake in eastern Japan on March 11th, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station was severely hit. In April, the first nuclear power plant No. 5 and No. 6 units accumulated a total of 150 billion becquerels of high-level nuclear sewage which was once discharged to the sea. It has been strongly condemned by the fishing industry and the international community. People concerned about the fresh fish market at Kesennuma Fishing Port in Miyagi Prefecture expressed concern.

In order to discharge nuclear waste, the Japanese government is negotiating with the relevant domestic authorities. It is not clear if the neighboring countries are notified in advance.