Japan to release radioactive water from Fukushima nuclear plant into Pacific Ocean in 2 years

In a move that’s fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japan’s neighbours, Japan government has announced that it will start releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in two years.

The long speculated decision, which has been delayed for years due to safety issues and protests, came after a meeting of the Cabinet ministers who have endorsed the ocean release as the best option.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant has stored the accumulated water since 2011. During this time, a massive earthquake and tsunami had damaged a reactor and water, which was cooling at the time, and had become contaminated and begun leaking.

As the plant’s storage capacity will be full late next year, the government has taken the decision to start releasing the water into the sea.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the ocean release was the most realistic option and that disposing of the water is needed to complete the decades-long decommissioning of the Fukushima plant. He said the government would work to make sure the water is safe and to help local agriculture, fisheries and tourism.