TOKYO, Dec 5 (NNN-NHK) – Japan yesterday began the 17th round of discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, into the ocean.
The discharge operation, which started yesterday, is scheduled to run through Dec 22, and will release an estimated 7,800 tonnes of wastewater, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings.
The company also acknowledged economic repercussions from the discharge, reporting that falling prices for seafood and related products have prompted compensation payments totaling 85 billion yen (550 million U.S. dollars) as of Nov 26.
Despite opposition from local fishermen, residents and the international community, ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water began in Aug, 2023, and a total of 125,488 tonnes of wastewater was released in the 16th round of release. The 18th round is expected to take place around March next year.– NNN-NHK