Two-week trial to discharge Fukushima contaminated water began on Monday
도쿄전력, 월요일 시운전 시작 오염수 방류 ‘초읽기’ Japan on Monday launched a two-week trial of releasing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The test run has been met with anger and concern that Tokyo is likely to push ahead with its complete release plan this summer. Shin Se-byuck starts us off. On Monday, Japan began a two-week test run on the process for discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. During the test run, the plant's operator the Tokyo Electric Power Company will mix fresh water and seawater, and see whether a specific volume of water can flow to the sea. Ensuring safety is also on the checklist. TEPCO will also see if the shutoff system works well in the event of an emergency. Although there won't be any actual release, the start of the trial operations means a release could take place soon. In the actual dump process, the treated water, which has been decontaminated of all radioactive substances except tritium that's inseparable from water, will be mixed with seawater. Last week, Japan sent some 6-thousand tonnes of seawater into a one-kilometer-long underwater tunnel built in the nuclear power plant. The tunnel will be used to guide the contaminated water to a point about one kilometer offshore from the plant. Japan plans to have its water release system ready by the end of this month. A final report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, on its inspection is expected in late June. Once everything is completed, Japan plans to begin the release of the wastewater sometime this summer. While Japan said it would not dispose of the water without consent from concerned parties it is facing fierce opposition both at home and abroad. Last Saturday, Japan's industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met with representatives from local fisheries. There, they expressed grave concerns over the plan saying the move is "fueling anxiety" about the future of fishing operations. Those from the neighboring countries are also worried. "If our consumers knew that nuclear radioactive water from the Fukushima power plant was dumped into the Pacific Ocean, Filipinos would be afraid to eat any marine life we have caught here in Manila Bay because the dumped water is bad for the environment, for the fish and of course, can harm our health." Hong Kong is also among those concerned. On Monday, Hong Kong's Environment and Ecology Bureau said it will enhance quarantine inspections on Japanese seafood, saying any necessary preparations such as procuring additional inspection equipment have already been completed. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News. #test_operation #Fukushima #contaminated_water #Tokyo_Electric_Power_Company #Daiichi_nuclear_power_plant #도쿄전력 #후쿠시마 #오염수 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : / arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : / arirangtvnews 📣 Homep age : https://v2.arirang.com/ 📣 News Center(YouTube) : / newscenter_arirangtv 2023-06-13, 09:00 (KST)
