Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura interviews fisheries officials in the three prefectures for treated water tour, explains the progress of the plan

Regarding the plan to dilute the treated water accumulated at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to a concentration below the standard and release it into the sea, METI Minister Nishimura met with fisheries stakeholders in Fukushima Prefecture and other prefectures, and indicated that he intends to proceed with preparations while gaining the understanding of the local community.

The government plans to dilute the treated water containing tritium and other radioactive substances that accumulate at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station to a concentration below the standard and release it into the sea, and TEPCO is preparing to start releasing it by around this summer.

Against this backdrop, Minister Nishimura met with fisheries officials in Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures one after another on November 10 and explained the progress of the plan.

In Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, he met with Tetsu Nozaki, chairman of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Federations, and others, and Minister Nishimura stated, "The release of treated water into the ocean is an unavoidable issue in proceeding with the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. He expressed his intention to proceed with preparations while gaining the understanding of the local community.

In response, Chairman Nozaki stated, "We continue to oppose the release into the ocean, but as a citizen of Fukushima Prefecture, we hope that the decommissioning will be carried out, and we will continue to discuss and find a way."

Regarding the release of treated water, the IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency, which evaluates the safety, is expected to publish the results of a comprehensive assessment as early as this month.

Based on the evaluation results, the government has decided to disseminate information both domestically and internationally, and preparations are approaching the final stage for the start of the discharge into the ocean, which is scheduled to end around this summer.

Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Federation Chairman Nozaki: "I would like to continue consultations"

Tetsu Nozaki, chairman of the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Federations, said after meeting with Minister Nishimura, "The national government had no choice but to decide to release the treated water into the ocean, so I would like you to understand. The government has also decided to continue to provide careful explanations, so we would like to continue consultations."

Preparation is in the final stages

The government has indicated that it plans to dilute the treated water and discharge it into the sea by around this summer, and TEPCO aims to complete the construction of the equipment used for the discharge and the pre-use inspection by the Nuclear Regulation Authority as early as this month, and preparations are in the final stages.

At the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the amount of treated water containing tritium and other radioactive substances remaining after treating contaminated water continues to increase, reaching approximately 18.97 million tons, or 133% of the tank's capacity, as of March 1.

TEPCO plans to add seawater to the treated water, dilute it to a substandard concentration, and then discharge it into the sea from a point about 40 km offshore through a tunnel dug into the seabed.

Before the treated water is released, the concentration of radioactive substances other than tritium is lowered below the standard level using a dedicated purification facility in advance.

Then, seawater is mixed and the concentration of tritium diluted to a concentration below 1,1 becquerels per liter, which is 1500/<> of the national standard, and released.

Facilities to dilute treated water and an undersea tunnel are almost complete, and TEPCO aims to complete the construction of the facilities and pre-use inspections by the Nuclear Regulation Authority by the end of this month.

TEPCO explained that the impact of radiation on people and the environment if treated water is released into the sea according to the plan is small enough to be evaluated in accordance with international guidelines, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority also considers this assessment reasonable.

In addition, the government has requested the IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency to dispatch a team of experts to verify safety, and the IAEA is expected to publish a report summarizing a comprehensive assessment as early as this month.

The government plans to wait for the IAEA evaluation before the release begins, and together with the completion of the facility, the premise for the release may be in place as early as this month.

The government's response to fishermen is

The plan to dilute the treated water accumulated at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and release it into the sea has been consistently opposed by fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture and surrounding prefectures, citing concerns about new reputational damage.

In particular, the local Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Federation has strongly opposed the government's decision to release the fish before the local fishermen show their understanding, since the government and TEPCO had written in 2015 that they would not take any action without the understanding of the people concerned.

In response to this, the government has formulated an action plan centered on expanding understanding of safety nationwide so as not to cause reputational damage, formulating an action plan centered on the creation of mechanisms such as compensation that will enable fishermen and others to continue their business even if reputational damage occurs, and promoting safety to a wide range of people, including consumers and the distribution industry.

Furthermore, with fisheries stakeholders in Fukushima Prefecture and surrounding areas in mind, the government has established a 300 billion yen fund to support the expansion of sales channels for marine products, to purchase frozen-capable marine products in the event of a drop in demand due to rumors caused by the release of treated water, and to support fishermen nationwide in efforts such as the development of fishing grounds for long-term business continuity. We have newly established a fund of 500 billion yen.

While announcing these support measures, the government has said that it has provided explanations hundreds of times to fishermen, mainly in Fukushima Prefecture, stating that it will "continue to provide careful explanations so that understanding can be obtained."

However, there is no prospect of gaining understanding by around summer, when the release will begin, and we will have to make a difficult decision.