The Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge facility will begin trial operation today. Japanese fishermen insist on opposing society | nuclear wastewater | Fukushima
On June 12th, according to Kyodo News Agency, Tokyo Electric Power Company began trial operation of the Fukushima nuclear power plant's sewage discharge facility on the local time.
Data image: TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
It is reported that this trial operation temporarily replaces nuclear wastewater with clean water, and after being diluted by seawater, it is discharged into the sea through an underwater tunnel. The trial operation will last for two weeks, and TEPCO plans to officially start discharging nuclear wastewater this summer.
Previously, Japanese Minister of Economy and Industry, Yasumi Nishimura, visited Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefectures on the 10th to exchange views with fishing groups from various regions. Japanese media reported that Nishimura Yasumi sought understanding in his efforts to start emissions around the summer, but fishermen once again expressed opposition. Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Association Federation President Tetsuya Nozaki emphasized, "Both sides have their own opinions. The stance against emissions remains unchanged."
On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the northeastern waters of Japan, triggering a massive tsunami. Affected by the earthquake and tsunami, a large amount of radioactive material leaked from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. On April 13, 2021, the Japanese government officially decided to filter and dilute Fukushima nuclear wastewater before discharging it into the sea. However, this decision has been widely questioned and opposed by the international community, and has also sparked strong concerns in Japan.