Post by : Shakul

Japan has discharged more than 55,000 tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean during fiscal year 2025, according to operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings.

The utility reported that a total of 55,011 tonnes of water were released across seven discharge rounds conducted between April 2025 and March 2026. The treated water contained approximately 16 trillion becquerels of tritium, a radioactive isotope that remains after the filtration process.

The discharge is part of Japan’s long-term plan to manage wastewater accumulated since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which damaged the plant and led to the buildup of large volumes of contaminated water used to cool reactor fuel.

Despite assurances from Japanese authorities that the water is treated and diluted to meet international safety standards, the move continues to draw criticism from several countries and environmental groups concerned about potential ecological and health impacts.

Japan began releasing the treated wastewater in August 2023, a decision that has since led to repeated rounds of discharge. So far, approximately 141,000 tonnes of wastewater have been released into the ocean over 18 rounds.

Looking ahead, TEPCO plans to increase the pace of operations, aiming for eight discharge rounds in fiscal year 2026 with a projected total volume of around 62,400 tonnes.

The process has been monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has stated that the discharge aligns with global safety standards. However, debates continue internationally over the long-term environmental consequences.

The issue remains a sensitive topic both domestically and globally, as Japan balances decommissioning efforts with environmental responsibility and diplomatic concerns.

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