Japan is set to discharge the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water that contains radioactive substances into the sea on Thursday, August 24.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko disclosed Tokyo’s plan which was made Tuesday, upon International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s greenlight after it concluded in its report that Japan’s activities "are consistent with relevant international safety standards."
"The discharge will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment," Kazuhiko said, citing IAEA’s comprehensive report.
Japan, according to the ambassador, also requested the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) "to promptly prepare for the start of the discharge into the sea."
"If there are no interference due to weather or sea conditions, the day of the initiation of discharge into the sea is expected to be August 24,” Kazuhiko said.
According to Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ALPS “is water that contains radioactive substances from inside the buildings of the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.”
It "has been purified and treated until it satisfies safety standards for all radioactive substances besides tritium," it added.
Several countries, especially those in the region which bodies of waters are connected to Japan’s, previously expressed concern on Tokyo's plan.
In a statement on Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin opposed Japan's impending move.
Wang said the plan to discharge ALPS "is extremely selfish and irresponsible" as it will "spread the risks of nuclear contamination to the rest of the world."
"By doing so, Japan is putting its selfish interests above the long-term wellbeing of the entire humanity. China is gravely concerned and strongly opposed to this. We have made serious démarches to Japan," he said.
But Kazuhiko assured concerned nations that Japan "will take all possible measures to ensure the safety of the discharge into the sea even after it begins, and will not discharge anything that could adversely affect the health or environment."
"After the start of discharge into the sea, Japan will continue to conduct three types of monitoring (monitoring of treated water in tanks, real-time monitoring, and sea area monitoring) in a multilayered manner with the involvement of the IAEA," it said.
"If some event occurs, such as radioactivity levels exceeding standards, appropriate measures, including not discharging or suspending the discharge, will be taken," it added.