Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has commenced the seventh batch of discharge of the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS). The process is expected to take 19 days and continues Japan’s commitment to safely manage the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.
A pre-discharge analysis, released on June 26, confirmed that the ALPS treated water met all regulatory safety standards. This seventh batch follows six previous successful discharges, starting in August 2023, each monitored rigorously before, during, and after release to ensure safety.
During the G7 summit held in Italy from June 13-15, the G7 leaders expressed strong support for Japan’s management of the ALPS treated water. The summit communique praised Japan’s "safe, transparent, and science-based process" and highlighted the proactive coordination with international scientists and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a significant diplomatic development, Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed to accelerate working-level consultations regarding the ALPS treated water during their meeting on May 26. Both leaders acknowledged progress in bilateral communications and stressed the importance of ongoing IAEA-monitored assessments involving interested countries, including China.
The sixth batch of discharge, conducted from May 17 to June 4, 2024, adhered to stringent safety standards. Tritium concentrations in the seawater remained significantly below safety thresholds set by both Japan and the World Health Organization (WHO). Each tritium concentration during the discharge was less than 234 Bq/L, far below Japan’s safety standard of 1,500 Bq/L and the WHO’s drinking water standard of 10,000 Bq/L.
Post-discharge measurements off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture revealed tritium levels below 8 Bq/L, well under Japan’s safety limit of 700 Bq/L. Additionally, the combined concentration ratios for other radionuclides were 0.17, significantly lower than the regulatory standard of 1.
Japan, with the support of the G7 and other international bodies, remains committed to ensuring the ALPS treated water discharge is conducted safely and transparently. Prime Minister Kishida hopes that ongoing IAEA monitoring, with the involvement of concerned nations, will foster greater understanding and cooperation on this critical issue.
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