Japan's Kyodo News "Coordinating Start of Contaminated Water Discharge at 1 PM on the 24th" (Update)

If Weather Conditions Remain Unchanged, Discharge Scheduled as Planned
Mixing 1 Ton of Contaminated Water with 1200 Tons of Seawater for Release

According to Kyodo News on the 23rd, the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are coordinating to start the release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean at 1 p.m. on the 24th. TEPCO, currently preparing for the release, has stated that if the tritium concentration meets the discharge standards and weather conditions are favorable, the release will proceed as planned.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Kyodo News on the 23rd, TEPCO is preparing to begin discharging contaminated water at 1 p.m. on the 24th. The day before, TEPCO started preparing for the release by diluting about 1 ton of contaminated water with 1,200 tons of seawater. TEPCO has indicated that if the tritium concentration in the diluted contaminated water samples is confirmed to be below the standard of 1,500 becquerels (Bq) and there are no changes in weather conditions, the discharge will proceed at the scheduled time.

TEPCO also stated that it will confirm whether ships for monitoring the contaminated water can set sail on the 24th and will announce any changes on the morning of the discharge day. Previously, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also announced that it would conduct on-site verification.

If the discharge begins on the 24th, TEPCO plans to release approximately 31,200 tons of contaminated water by March next year, which is estimated to be about 2.3% of the total stored contaminated water. Since the explosion accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, contaminated water has continuously been generated at the Fukushima nuclear plant, and currently about 1.34 million tons are stored.

TEPCO also emphasized that if there is an abnormality in the contaminated water facilities, an emergency shut-off valve will automatically operate. In the event of variables such as an earthquake of magnitude 5 or higher, tsunami, or issuance of warnings due to high waves, the ocean discharge will be suspended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.