Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says water samples taken from the Pacific Ocean near the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northern Japan to analyze tritium concentrations were “confirmed to be less than the upper limit for the operation,” which is 1,500 becquerels per liter.

“Measurement results of tritium concentrations in water sampled in the vicinity of the discharge outlet (within 3 km of the power station) and outside of the vicinity of the discharge outlet (within 10 sq. km. in front of the power station) since the commencement of the first discharge on August 24, 2023, are all below indices.”

“Tritium concentrations measured during sea area monitoring after the commencement of discharge are within the range of fluctuation identified through past seawater monitoring performed throughout the whole of Japan.”

TEPCO says in the future, it is possible that concentrations of tritium in the seawater “may be affected” by the concentrations of tritium in the ALPS treated water that is discharged “and exceed those observed in the past.” However, TEPCO says these fluctuations will be within predicted levels and below the investigation level.

Monitoring results for seabed soil in front of the Unit 5 intake did not show significant fluctuations. However, the company added, “While they showed higher readings after January 2023, we have confirmed that these readings decreased after the completion of silt removal.”

In an analysis of ALPS Treated Water in the Measurement/Confirmation Tanks, TEPCO says the water “satisfies discharge requirements. The external agency consigned by TEPCO (Kaken) and the third-party consigned by the Japanese Government (JAEA) obtained the same results from their analyses.”

TEPCO has also been testing a telescopic device to inspect the damaged plant and will proceed with preparations to install the telescopic device inside the reactor building. TEPCO is planning to begin the trial retrieval of fuel debris at some point between August and October 2024.