The Japanese government is preparing a joint statement at the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Sapporo in April to welcome the treatment of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by transparent discharge procedures, Asahi said. The newspaper reported on the 22nd.
According to reports, the Japanese government is working with countries to include the expression ‘welcome a transparent process for release’ in the joint statement and ‘welcome progress’ regarding the reuse plan of decontaminated soil (soil from which radioactive materials have been removed). are coordinating
Both the contaminated water and salt-salted soil issues are deeply rooted issues in Japan, but Asahi interpreted them as an attempt to gain support from major countries.
The Japanese government is said to have explained this to representatives of each country at working-level meetings held in Tokyo on the 1st and 3rd.
A Japanese government official told the Asahi Shimbun, “If we can unite as a G7, we can appeal to safety. However, besides the question of including issues unique to Japan in the joint statement, there are countries such as Germany that are cautious about nuclear power generation.” . Another official said that it is still unclear whether it will be able to include ‘Welcome’.
Until now, no statement supporting the release of contaminated water or the reuse of decontaminated soil has been included in the G7 joint statement.
Contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is generated in the process of cooling melted nuclear fuel. It is purified and stored in a tank inside the nuclear power plant site, but according to TEPCO, it is expected to be full from this summer to autumn.
TEPCO plans to release contaminated water (treated water) to the sea 1km offshore from the nuclear power plant after lowering the concentration of 62 types of radioactive materials to below the national standard in the Multi-Nuclide Removal System (ALPS), and discharge it this spring or summer. plan to start
In response, not only Japan, but also fishermen in neighboring countries such as Korea and Pacific island countries are opposed to the release, fearing that the discharge of contaminated water from nuclear power plants will disrupt the fishing industry.
Source: Donga
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