The Japanese nuclear power plant in Fukushima is ready to pour the radioactive water used to cool its plants into the Pacific Ocean. And the decision would be " in line with the safety standards of the nuclear industry and will have a "negligible" impact on the environment", as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) at the end of the report coordinated by the Director General Rafael Grossi, visiting Japan.
The ghost of the nuclear disaster that occurred in March 2011 following a magnitude 9 earthquake and resulting tidal wave has never gone away. But now it seems to be back on the scene with arrogance, shaking not only the land of the rising sun but also neighboring ones, including Russia, China and South Korea. The operator of the plant currently being decommissioned, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco ), has over 1,000 tanks to store treated water, currently at 98% of their capacity.
Before the IAEA delivered its report, the Chinese ambassador to Japan , Wu Jianghao, expressed - in a conference this morning in Tokyo - his country's opposition and asked that paths be taken that include a " safe scientific method of treatment , which other nations may accept". According to the diplomat, Japan is showing " little respect for science ", which has not taken into account the long-term impact on the marine ecosystem .
"We will provide detailed explanations of scientific evidence with high transparency and will work to strengthen the understanding of the international community," reassured Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. In the meantime, however, the works for the dismantling of the plant continue unabated. According to government estimates, operations could continue until 2051.
(Unioneonline/vf)