Controversy Over IAEA's Approval of Japan's Plan to Release Fukushima's Treated Radioactive Water: Risks and Implications

 The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given its nod to Japan's proposal to discharge a million tonnes of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. This contentious decision comes twelve years post the cataclysmic nuclear disaster triggered by a tsunami in Japan. 

"Radiological Impact Negligible."

The opponents of the plan range from a section of Japanese citizens, neighboring nations like China and South Korea, to environmental groups, fishermen, and the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif), with members like Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Kiribati, and even Papua New Guinea. 

The water earmarked for ocean discharge is the coolant used post-accident to stabilize the damaged reactors. Stored in approximately 1,000 tanks, this water has undergone treatment to minimize its radioactivity. According to a report submitted by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the discharge of the treated water would bear a "minimal radiological influence" on humans and the marine ecosystem.

Yet, the tanks continue to harbor traces of tritium, a highly radioactive hydrogen isotope, which is irremovable. These tanks pose a potential threat in the event of new tsunamis or earthquakes and hinder the decommissioning of the nuclear power plant. Hence, Japan is keen on their removal. 

Methodology for Radioactive Water Disposal at Fukushima

The disposal of Fukushima’s contaminated water is a calculated process set to span across four decades. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the firm responsible for operating the Fukushima nuclear plant and managing the decontamination of the water, will transport these liquids coastward through a pipeline. By diluting the treated water with seawater, it will then be released into the open ocean via an undersea tunnel.

In April 2021, following the decision to release the stored water from the Fukushima site into the sea, Japan sought a comprehensive safety review from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This review has since been completed, and TEPCO’s final approval is pending for the commencement of the water release.

Throughout the discharge phase, the IAEA will persist in conducting safety checks. To maintain transparency and accountability, the agency will also offer real-time online monitoring via its website, apart from its on-site presence.