TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has stated its respect for the assessment report by the Japanese government after it announced on Tuesday (Aug. 22) that it would begin discharging nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24.
The report, conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated its intention to maintain close communication and coordination with Japan.
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered extensive damage in 2011 due to an earthquake and tsunami, making it one of the most significant nuclear disasters globally.
Since then, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) had collected approximately 1.34 million tons of nuclear wastewater, which includes water used to cool nuclear reactors, underground water, and rainwater.
TEPCO stated that these waters have undergone dilution and filtration processes that remove almost all radioactive substances except tritium, the levels of which are far below dangerous levels. These waters will be discharged into the sea off Japan's northeastern coast at a maximum rate of 500,000 liters per day.
In July this year, the IAEA assessed Japan's discharge plan as meeting global safety standards, with a minuscule radioactive impact on humans and the environment.
Following Japans' announcement, Taiwan's Atomic Energy Council (AEC) remarked that it would continue to monitor the waters surrounding the area and continue the testing of radiation levels.